Matheus Nicolau Record: 19-5-1

First UFC run and reset

Nicolau extended his form with a 2017 decision over Louis Smolka, but a 2018 first-round knockout loss to Dustin Ortiz derailed his momentum and preceded a release from the promotion. Rather than fade, he rebuilt outside the UFC, winning by D'Arce choke and decision on the regional scene in 2019 to force his way back into the conversation.

Return and contender push

Back in the UFC, Nicolau put together one of the division's better runs, taking a split decision over Manel Kape in 2021, then outpointing Tim Elliott and David Dvořák across 2021 and 2022. He capped the streak with a second-round knockout of Matt Schnell in December 2022 that pushed him toward the top of the flyweight rankings. The momentum stalled against the division's elite: a 2023 first-round knockout loss to Brandon Royval, a 2024 knockout loss to Alex Perez, and a unanimous-decision defeat to Asu Almabayev in October 2024.

Fighting style

Nicolau is a polished, well-rounded flyweight whose finish breakdown – five knockouts, five submissions and nine decisions among 19 wins, a 53% finish rate – reflects genuine two-way danger. His boxing is technically clean and his Nova União grappling gives him a credible submission threat, as the necktie and D'Arce finishes show. His patient, measured pace makes him a tough out who often controls the geography of a fight. The honest caveat is durability against top punchers: four of his five career losses have come by knockout, including the setbacks to Ortiz, Royval and Perez, the recurring obstacle between him and a title shot.

Career highlights

• Top-15 flyweight contender — a four-fight UFC win streak from 2021-2022 over Kape, Elliott, Dvořák and Schnell lifted him near the front of the division.
• Knockout of Matt Schnell — a second-round finish in December 2022 that stood as his statement win during his contender push.
• Versatile finishing résumé — five knockouts and five submissions, including a rare Japanese necktie finish of Bruno Korea.