Phil Hawes Record: 12-6-0

UFC run and signature knockouts

Hawes announced himself in spectacular fashion at UFC 254 in October 2020, flattening Jacob Malkoun with a first-round knockout that became one of the fastest finishes in promotional history. He backed it up with momentum-building decisions over Nassourdine Imavov in February 2021 and Kyle Daukaus that May, climbing toward the middleweight rankings. The surge stalled in November 2021, when Chris Curtis stunned him with a first-round knockout. Hawes answered with a grappling exhibition against Andre Petroski before returning to form with a second-round TKO of Deron Winn at a June 2022 Fight Night.

Later career

The back half of Hawes's run proved turbulent. He was knocked out in the first round by Roman Dolidze in October 2022, then suffered another opening-round KO against the surging Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 288 in May 2023. The pattern repeated in January 2024, when Brunno Ferreira finished him in the first round. The losses underscored the high-variance nature of a fighter who lives and dies by the knockout — capable of ending any bout in seconds, but vulnerable in the same exchanges.

Fighting style

Hawes is a finisher first. His 12-6 record features eight knockouts and two submissions for an 83% finish rate, a number that captures both his explosiveness and his all-or-nothing tendencies. His Division I wrestling gives him strong takedowns and the ability to dictate position, but his calling card is concussive punching power that has produced several first-round stoppages. The flip side is durability: five of his six losses have come by knockout, a reflection of an aggressive, forward-pressing approach that leaves little margin for error against elite strikers.

Career highlights

• Highlight-reel UFC arrival — knocked out Jacob Malkoun in seconds at UFC 254, one of the fastest finishes in promotional history.
• Three-fight UFC surge — followed the Malkoun knockout with decision wins over Nassourdine Imavov and Kyle Daukaus to push toward the middleweight top 15.
• Elite grappling pedigree — a national JUCO wrestling champion and NCAA Division I competitor at Iowa State, giving him a foundation few middleweights can match.