Daniel Marcos Record: 18-1-0

UFC run

Marcos made his official UFC debut in style at UFC 283 in January 2023, stopping Saimon Oliveira with a second-round knockout built on a knee to the body and punches. He followed with a hard-fought split-decision win over veteran Davey Grant in July 2023. His February 2024 meeting with Aoriqileng was ruled a no contest after an accidental groin kick in the second round, but Marcos kept rolling, taking a unanimous decision over the durable John Castañeda in June 2024 and a split-decision win over Adrian Yanez in December 2024.

First loss and response

Marcos's perfect record finally fell in May 2025, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Montel Jackson – the only blemish on his professional ledger. He answered in the best possible way, returning in November 2025 to submit Miles Johns with a second-round rear-naked choke, a finish that showed off a grappling dimension to complement his trademark striking and reasserted him as a rising force at 135 pounds.

Fighting style

Marcos is a measured, technically refined striker who wins rounds with precision rather than chaos. His 18-1 record carries a 50% finish rate, fairly balanced between eight knockouts and a growing decision count, with the submission of Johns adding a new wrinkle to his arsenal. At his best he controls range with crisp boxing and well-timed body attacks, banking rounds with the kind of cage IQ that turns close fights into wins on the cards – several of his UFC victories came by split or unanimous decision. The Jackson loss exposed the ceiling of a more passive, point-fighting approach against a rangy, busy opponent, and his answer – a submission finish – suggested a fighter willing to expand his game rather than stand pat.

Career highlights

• One of Peru's elite — carried an 18-1 record into the UFC's bantamweight rankings, with his lone loss coming only in 2025 after years unbeaten.
• Contender Series breakthrough — earned his UFC deal by beating Brandon Lewis on Dana White's Contender Series while still undefeated.
• Statement bounce-back — responded to his first career loss by submitting Miles Johns via second-round rear-naked choke, proving his game runs deeper than striking.