Josias Musasa Record: 8-2-0

Contender Series breakthrough

Musasa earned his UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series in September 2024, edging unbeaten Georgian Otari Tanzilovi by split decision. The bout forced him to show a side of his game beyond the early knockout — grit, conditioning and the ability to win a close, three-round fight — and he came through it to become one of the few fighters from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to reach the UFC.

UFC adversity

The step up in class proved steep. In March 2025, Musasa was submitted by Carlos Vera with a first-round rear-naked choke at UFC Fight Night, the first loss of his professional career and an early lesson in the grappling depth of the UFC bantamweight division. He returned that September against Colby Thicknesse and went the distance for the first time at this level, ultimately dropping a unanimous decision. He is scheduled to face Mark Vologdin at UFC Fight Night in August 2026 as he looks to claim his first Octagon victory.

Fighting style

Musasa is a pure knockout artist, and the numbers are striking: seven of his eight wins have come by knockout or TKO, with only one decision and no submission victories, for an 88 percent finish rate that ranks among the highest in the division. His boxing pedigree shows in his hands and his timing, and his arsenal extends to spectacular finishes like the flying knee that ended Malunes. The two losses on his ledger point to the work ahead — a first-round submission and a decision — and underline that his ground game and his ability to win the championship-round grind are the areas the UFC's elite will continue to test. When the fight stays standing, though, few bantamweights hit harder.

Career highlights

• Contender Series contract — outpointed unbeaten Otari Tanzilovi by split decision in 2024 to earn his UFC deal.
• One of the few Congolese UFC fighters — carried the flag for the Democratic Republic of the Congo onto the sport's biggest stage.
• Elite finishing rate — owns an 88 percent finish rate, with seven of eight wins by knockout, including a first-round flying-knee KO.