Dustin Stoltzfus Record: 16-8-0

Earning a UFC contract

That shot came on Dana White's Contender Series in August 2020, where Stoltzfus headlined and earned his UFC deal with a first-round TKO of highly touted prospect Joe Pyfer, who was forced out by an elbow injury. He made his official UFC debut three months later at UFC 255, dropping a decision to Kyle Daukaus in November 2020.

Navigating the UFC middleweight division

The early UFC going was tough. Stoltzfus was submitted by grappling ace Rodolfo Vieira in July 2021 and by submission specialist Gerald Meerschaert that December, before earning his first Octagon win with a decision over Dwight Grant at UFC on ABC 3 in July 2022. A first-round TKO loss to Abus Magomedov followed in September 2022, but Stoltzfus regrouped with one of the best wins of his career in December 2023, submitting Punahele Soriano with a second-round rear-naked choke.

Recent campaign

His form since has been mixed but eventful. After a first-round knockout loss to Brunno Ferreira in June 2024, Stoltzfus delivered his own highlight, knocking out Canadian veteran Marc-André Barriault with first-round punches in November 2024. He then dropped consecutive decisions in 2025 to Nursulton Ruziboev in May and former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum in September, the latter a measuring-stick test against one of the division's most experienced names.

Fighting style

Stoltzfus is a grappling-first fighter whose record reflects a versatile submission arsenal – six of his 16 wins have come by submission, with three by knockout and the rest by decision for a 56% finish rate. He holds credentials across Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Luta Livre, and his ground game ranges from chokes to leg locks and even a twister. He has shown flashes of finishing power on the feet too, as the Barriault knockout demonstrated. The honest read on his record is that elite grapplers and pressure strikers have given him trouble at the UFC level, but his submission acumen, length and toughness make him a live threat against anyone he can take down or tie up.

Career highlights

• Contender Series contract — earned his UFC deal by finishing top prospect Joe Pyfer in a 2020 main event.
• Signature submission win — choked out Punahele Soriano in the second round, one of his standout UFC performances.
• Knockout power — flattened veteran Marc-André Barriault with first-round punches to show he is more than a grappler.