Francisco Prado Record: 12-5-0

UFC run

Prado was thrown straight into the deep end at UFC 284 in February 2023, taking a short-notice fight against the experienced Jamie Mullarkey and dropping a competitive unanimous decision – the first defeat and first decision of his career. He bounced back emphatically in July 2023 with the signature win of his run, a first-round TKO of the previously one-loss Ottman Azaitar capped by a spinning back elbow that earned a Performance of the Night bonus. The level only rose from there: he lost a unanimous decision to unbeaten Mexican prospect Daniel Zellhuber in February 2024, a unanimous decision to veteran Jake Matthews at UFC 312 in February 2025, and a split decision to Nikolay Veretennikov at UFC 318 in July 2025. His most recent outing, a unanimous-decision loss to Charles Radtke at UFC 327 in April 2026, extended a difficult stretch against high-level opposition.

Fighting style

Prado is a pure finisher by instinct: every one of his 12 professional wins has come inside the distance, split evenly between six knockouts and six submissions for a 100% finish rate that is exceptionally rare in the modern game. He carries genuine power in his hands and feet – the spinning back elbow that stopped Azaitar showed his creativity – while his submission game gives him a second path to ending fights. The challenge at UFC level has been clear in his record: all five of his losses have come by decision, suggesting that against elite gatekeepers who survive his early aggression, his volume, output, and ability to win rounds over 15 minutes still need to catch up to his raw finishing ability.

Career highlights

• Spinning-elbow finish of Ottman Azaitar — a first-round TKO at UFC Fight Night in July 2023 that earned a Performance of the Night bonus and remains his marquee win.
• Perfect finish rate — all 12 of his career victories have come by stoppage, evenly split between knockouts and submissions.
• Teenage UFC signing — reached the sport's top promotion while still a teenager on the strength of an unbeaten, finish-only regional run.