UFC"Iron"Nikolas Motta Record: 15-6-0
LightweightRecord15-6-0
Age33
DivisionLightweight · #115
Combat Edge Elo1642
Last fightJun 21 2025
Nikolas Motta has a 15-6-0 professional record and is 33 years old in the Lightweight division, representing Nova Uniao. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 17, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Nikolas Motta bio
Personal background
Nikolas Motta is a Brazilian lightweight in the UFC, fighting under the nickname "Iron" and born February 8, 1993, in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais. He fell in love with fighting young, beginning training around age 13, and as a teenager made the roughly nine-and-a-half-hour journey from his hometown to Rio de Janeiro to chase a championship dream. He landed at the renowned Nova Uniao academy, which became his home from age 18 to 23 and where he sharpened his craft alongside accomplished teammates including UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo. Standing 5'8" with a 70-inch reach, Motta built his game around heavy hands and a relentless, pressure-forward style that has made him one of the harder punchers in the lightweight division.
Path to the UFC
Motta turned professional in 2012 and spent nearly a decade grinding through the Brazilian and American regional scene. He gained national exposure in 2015 as a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 4, reaching the quarterfinals as part of Anderson Silva's team. The defining win of his pre-UFC run came in 2018, when he knocked out Joe Solecki in the third round at 864 Fighting Championship. He went on to capture the Cage Fury lightweight championship, and a Contender Series appearance in 2020 helped open the door to the UFC.
UFC run
Motta's Octagon journey began the hard way. In his February 2022 debut he ran into veteran Jim Miller, who stopped him with second-round punches. He answered emphatically that September, blasting out Cameron VanCamp with first-round strikes for his first UFC win. The road stayed bumpy: he was knocked out by a first-round elbow from Manuel Torres in June 2023, then fought Trey Ogden to a no contest that November. Motta found his best UFC form in 2024, stopping unbeaten prospect Tom Nolan with first-round punches and then outpointing Maheshate Hayisaer over three rounds for a back-to-back run. He was stopped by Nazim Sadykhov via second-round TKO in June 2025.
Fighting style
Motta is a knockout artist, plain and simple. Ten of his 15 wins have come by KO or TKO, and not one has come by submission, the mark of a fighter who lives and dies by his striking. He pressures forward behind powerful, looping power shots and is at his most dangerous early, with several of his finishes coming in the first round. His 67 percent finish rate underlines the threat he carries on the feet. The flip side is plainly visible in his record: every one of his losses has come by knockout, TKO or submission, never by decision, a reflection of an all-action, high-variance approach that leaves him vulnerable when a faster or more polished striker beats him to the punch. When Motta lands clean first, though, fights tend to end quickly.
Career highlights
- Cage Fury lightweight champion — captured a regional title and earned his UFC shot on the back of a long, finish-heavy climb through the regional ranks.
- Debut-bounce-back knockout — rebounded from a losing UFC debut to blast out Cameron VanCamp in the first round for his first Octagon victory.
- Spoiling an unbeaten prospect — stopped the previously perfect Tom Nolan with first-round punches in 2024, one of the signature wins of his UFC run.
Career snapshot
Nikolas Motta career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1642Solid ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#864
Lightweight#115of 201 active
Peak1658
Last move-16
Opponent quality1599avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1658 Elo after defeating Maheshate Hayisaer (2024-11-23)
Similar Elo in Lightweight
Nikolas Motta quick answers
What is Nikolas Motta's record?
Nikolas Motta's professional MMA record is 15-6-0.
How old is Nikolas Motta?
Nikolas Motta is 33 years old.
What weight class is Nikolas Motta?
Nikolas Motta fights at Lightweight in UFC.
How tall is Nikolas Motta?
Nikolas Motta is 5'8" tall with a 70" reach.
How much does Nikolas Motta weigh?
Nikolas Motta competes at Lightweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 155 lbs.
What is Nikolas Motta's Combat Edge Elo?
Nikolas Motta's Combat Edge Elo is 1642, with a peak Elo of 1658.
How strong is Nikolas Motta's recent opposition?
Nikolas Motta's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1599 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Nikolas Motta's last fight?
Nikolas Motta's latest tracked pro fight was against Nazim Sadykhov at UFC Fight Night on Jun 21 2025.
What is Nikolas Motta's recent form?
Nikolas Motta's recent tracked pro form is L-W-W-L-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Nikolas Motta usually win?
Nikolas Motta's 15 recorded wins include 10 knockouts, 0 submissions, and 5 decisions, with 67% ending before the final bell.
10Wins by knockout
0Wins by submission
5Wins by decision
5Loss by knockout
1Loss by submission
0Loss by decision
Nikolas Motta stats
Record : 15 / 6 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
3.64Fighter3.07Division average
Significant striking accuracy
37%Fighter43%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
4.50Fighter3.89Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
56%Fighter53%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
0Fighter1.59Division average
Takedown accuracy
TBDFighter35%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
82%Fighter51%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0Fighter0.66Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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