UFC"The Animal"Val Woodburn Record: 7-2-0
WelterweightRecord7-2-0
Age32
DivisionWelterweight
Combat Edge Elo1470
Last fightFeb 17 2024
Val Woodburn has a 7-2-0 professional record and is 32 years old in the Welterweight division, representing Fusion X-Cel Performance. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jun 19, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Val Woodburn bio
Personal background
Val Woodburn, who fights under the nickname "The Animal," is an American welterweight who reached the UFC by way of Florida's regional scene. Born August 10, 1993, in Apopka, Florida, Woodburn came to combat sports relatively late and through an unconventional door: he studied culinary arts at a technical school and worked in the restaurant industry before taking up training around 2016 as an outlet for his competitive drive. Standing 5'8" with an unusually long 74-inch reach for the division, he built his game on the local Florida circuit, fighting out of Fusion X-Cel Performance and developing into a heavy-handed, aggressive pressure fighter who earned his way onto the sport's biggest stage.
Path to the UFC
Woodburn turned professional in 2020 and tore through the regional Combat Night Pro promotion in his home state. He opened his career with three first-round knockout-or-stoppage wins in 2020 alone, then kept the momentum going through 2021 and 2022, mixing early finishes with two unanimous-decision victories that proved he could also win the long way. That undefeated regional run – seven straight wins, five of them by knockout – positioned him as a short-notice option for the UFC when the call came.
UFC run
Woodburn's UFC debut, in July 2023 at UFC 290, came on extremely short notice against unbeaten prospect Bo Nickal, and it ended quickly: Nickal stopped him with punches in the first round. Woodburn returned to the Octagon in February 2024 at UFC 298 against Oban Elliott, this time lasting the full fight before dropping a unanimous decision over three rounds. Those two setbacks against rising welterweights account for both blemishes on his record, which sits at 7-2 with all of the damage coming inside the UFC against tough, in-form opposition.
Fighting style
Woodburn is a knockout-minded pressure fighter, with five of his seven wins coming by KO/TKO and a finish rate of 71%. His game is built on aggression and power punching, walking opponents down and looking to end fights early rather than grind out points – though the two decision wins on his regional ledger show he can be patient when a fight calls for it. His record also reflects the steep step up the UFC represents: the first-round loss to Nickal exposed the danger of trading early with elite finishers, while the decision loss to Elliott showed the fine margins at the top level. With no submissions for or against on his record, Woodburn is fundamentally a striker who wants the fight standing.
Career highlights
- Undefeated regional run to the UFC — won his first seven professional fights, five by knockout, to earn a UFC contract out of the Florida circuit.
- Combat Night champion — captured Combat Night honors during his rise, the centerpiece title of his pre-UFC career.
- UFC debut against an elite prospect — took a UFC 290 fight on short notice against unbeaten Bo Nickal, stepping straight into the deep end of the welterweight division.
Career snapshot
Val Woodburn career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1470Average ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Outside the active ladder after 24 months without a counted pro MMA fight. Current and peak Elo stay raw.
Similar Elo in Welterweight
Val Woodburn quick answers
What is Val Woodburn's record?
Val Woodburn's professional MMA record is 7-2-0.
How old is Val Woodburn?
Val Woodburn is 32 years old.
What weight class is Val Woodburn?
Val Woodburn fights at Welterweight in UFC.
How tall is Val Woodburn?
Val Woodburn is 5'8" tall with a 74.00 reach.
How much does Val Woodburn weigh?
Val Woodburn competes at Welterweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 170 lbs.
What is Val Woodburn's Combat Edge Elo?
Val Woodburn's Combat Edge Elo is 1470, with a peak Elo of 1500.
How strong is Val Woodburn's recent opposition?
Val Woodburn's latest 2 counted opponents averaged 1661 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Val Woodburn's last fight?
Val Woodburn's latest tracked pro fight was against Oban Elliott at UFC 298: Volkanovski vs. Topuria on Feb 17 2024.
What is Val Woodburn's recent form?
Val Woodburn's recent tracked pro form is L-L-W-W-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Val Woodburn usually win?
Val Woodburn's 7 recorded wins include 5 knockouts, 0 submissions, and 2 decisions, with 71% ending before the final bell.
5Wins by knockout
0Wins by submission
2Wins by decision
1Loss by knockout
0Loss by submission
1Loss by decision
Val Woodburn stats
Record : 7 / 2 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
1.60Fighter2.97Division average
Significant striking accuracy
36%Fighter43%Division average
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
4.93Fighter3.82Division average
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
36%Fighter52%Division average
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
1.92Fighter1.38Division average
Takedown accuracy
100%Fighter37%Division average
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
50%Fighter51%Division average
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
0Fighter0.63Division average
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
Amateur fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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