Yanal Ashmouz Record: 8-2-0

UFC arrival

Ashmouz could not have asked for a better debut. At UFC 286 in March 2023, he flattened Sam Patterson with punches in the first round, a highlight-reel knockout that immediately marked him as a prospect to watch. The step up in competition bit back four months later, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Chris Duncan in a hard, grinding three-rounder — his first professional loss and a lesson in the grappling-heavy pressure that defines the UFC's 155-pound class.

Rebounding and the road ahead

Ashmouz answered the setback in September 2024 with a measured unanimous-decision win over Trevor Peek, showing he could win a fight on the cards rather than relying solely on his power. He was then matched tough again at UFC 316 in June 2025, losing a unanimous decision to surging Australian prospect Quillan Salkilld. The result left him at 8-2, with both of his losses coming by decision against live contenders — the mark of a fighter testing himself near the edge of the rankings rather than padding a record.

Fighting style

Ashmouz is a finisher with a grappler's safety net. Six of his eight wins have come inside the distance — four by knockout and two by submission, for a finish rate around 75 percent — and his power was on full display in the Patterson knockout. The jiu-jitsu base gives him a credible second gear if a fight hits the mat, while his two losses, both unanimous decisions, point to the gap that remains against the division's best wrestlers and pace-setters. When he can keep a fight in the pocket on his terms, he is dangerous; when opponents impose a grinding, control-based game, he has had a tougher time getting his offense going.

Career highlights

• Highlight-reel UFC debut — knocked out Sam Patterson with punches in the first round at UFC 286, one of the most emphatic Octagon debuts of the year.
• Undefeated into the UFC — reached the world's top promotion with a perfect regional record built on finishes across Israel and the U.S. circuit.
• Bounce-back win — rebounded from his first pro loss with a poised unanimous-decision victory over Trevor Peek in 2024.