Maheshate Hayisaer Record: 10-5-0

UFC debut and the highs and lows

His Octagon arrival could hardly have gone better. At UFC 275 in June 2022, Maheshate knocked out the experienced Steve Garcia with a single first-round punch, an emphatic debut that announced his power to the lightweight division. The level-up that followed proved unforgiving. He dropped a unanimous decision to Rafa García in December 2022, then suffered a second-round TKO against Viacheslav Borshchev in May 2023 — the only knockout loss of his career — in a striker-versus-striker clash that exposed the risks of his aggressive approach.

Rebound and recent run

Maheshate steadied himself in April 2024 with a hard-earned split-decision win over veteran Gabriel Benítez, showing he could grind out a result against a durable, experienced opponent. The momentum did not hold. He lost a unanimous decision to Nikolas Motta in November 2024, then dropped another unanimous decision to Gauge Young in August 2025, leaving him searching for consistency against the deep lightweight field. The recent skid has been defined not by being finished but by losing the rounds when his power does not land early.

Fighting style

Maheshate is, at his core, a knockout artist. Four of his ten wins have come by KO/TKO and one by submission, against five decisions, for a 50% finish rate that reflects a fighter capable of ending nights instantly but also willing to push the pace for 15 minutes. His best weapon is concussive punching power, particularly early, and his length lets him sit on the end of his range. The honest weakness is volume and pace over a full fight: four of his five career losses have come by decision, a pattern that suggests opponents who survive his early bursts and pile up output can out-point him as rounds wear on. Tightening his cardio and round-to-round consistency is the clear path to climbing back up.

Career highlights

• Contender Series contract — beat unbeaten Achilles Estremadura on Dana White's Contender Series in 2021 to earn his UFC deal as a touted Chinese prospect.
• Debut knockout — iced Steve Garcia with a single first-round punch at UFC 275, one of the most emphatic Octagon debuts of the year.
• Proven finishing power — four of his ten career wins by KO/TKO, built on legitimate one-shot power that keeps every fight live.