Saimon Oliveira Record: 18-7-0

UFC run

Oliveira's promotional debut came at UFC 270 in January 2022, where he dropped a unanimous decision to the durable wrestler Tony Gravely in a competitive three-rounder. A year later at UFC 283 in his native Brazil, he ran into unbeaten prospect Daniel Marcos, who stopped him in the second round with a knee to the body and follow-up punches. After a long layoff he returned in March 2025 against rising contender David Martinez, who finished him in the opening round with knees and punches. Later that year, at a UFC Fight Night in October 2025, Oliveira faced fellow Brazilian Luan Lacerda and was caught in a second-round armbar – a rare instance of the grappler being beaten at his own game.

Fighting style

Oliveira is a finisher first and foremost: of his 18 career victories, 11 have come by submission and another five by knockout, an 89% finish rate that underlines how rarely he leaves results in the judges' hands. His best weapon is the guillotine and front-headlock series, which he chains off scrambles and opponents' takedown attempts, and he is dangerous the moment a fight hits the mat. The flip side has shown at the elite level, where his UFC losses have all come either by decision or by being beaten to the punch, exposing questions about his pace, takedown defense, and striking output against the division's faster, more athletic men. At his best, though, he is a constant submission threat who can end a fight in an instant.

Career highlights

• Contender Series contract — outpointed veteran José Alday on Dana White's Contender Series in 2021 to earn his place on the UFC roster.
• Elite submission game — 11 of his wins have come by submission, the backbone of a near-90% career finish rate built largely on guillotines and front-headlock chokes.
• Regional finishing machine — stacked up first-round stoppages across Aspera FC and other circuits, finishing the likes of Wataru Mimura before reaching the UFC.