Don'Tale Mayes Record: 11-9-0

UFC run

Mayes's octagon debut came against future title challenger Ciryl Gane in October 2019, a tall order that ended in a third-round submission loss. He was submitted again in 2020 by Rodrigo Nascimento before settling in, rebounding with a 2020 decision over the durable Roque Martinez and a 2021 TKO of Josh Parisian. A 2022 bout with Hamdy Abdelwahab at UFC 277 was ruled a no-contest after the result was overturned.

Later career

Mayes's heavyweight grind continued with mixed results. After a 2023 decision loss to Augusto Sakai, he authored one of his best moments — a second-round TKO of former champion Andrei Arlovski in June 2023. A rematch with Rodrigo Nascimento went to the scorecards against him later that year, and a 2024 decision over Caio Machado was followed by a tougher stretch — decision losses to Shamil Gaziev and Thomas Petersen, plus a 2025 first-round heel-hook submission defeat to Valter Walker.

Fighting style

Mayes is a length-based striker who uses his enormous frame to control distance and unload heavy combinations. His 11-9 record includes six knockouts, one submission and a 64% finish rate, reflecting a fighter who is genuinely dangerous when he can keep a bout standing and dictate range. His judo background gives him useful clinch tools and trips, but the persistent gap in his game has been grappling defense: three of his losses have come by submission, and his takedown defense and ground scrambles have repeatedly been targeted by wrestlers and grapplers. At his best, the combination of size, reach and power makes him a problem for anyone in the division; at his worst, he can be dragged into the phases where he is least comfortable.

Career highlights

• Statement win over a former champion — stopped ex-UFC heavyweight titleholder Andrei Arlovski by second-round TKO in 2023.
• Contender Series breakthrough — earned his UFC contract by finishing Ricardo Prasel on his third Dana White's Contender Series appearance.
• Heavyweight length and power — a 6'6" frame with an 81-inch reach and a 64% finish rate, giving him knockout upside against the division's biggest names.