Junior dos Santos (23-10, 17) was born in Caçador, Santa Catarina, Brazil on January 30, 1984. At the age of 22 years on July 16, 2006, he made his professional MMA debut against Jailson Silva Santos, winning the fight via 1st-round KO.
On October 25, 2008, 24-year old Junior dos Santos made his UFC debut on his 8th professional MMA fight at UFC 90 against a 31-year old Fabrício Werdum, winning the fight in the 1st round via TKO.
He became the UFC heavyweight champion on November 12, 2011 at age 27 on his 15th professional MMA fight at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos after defeating a 29-year old Cain Velasquez via 1st-round KO.
Santos' last fight was a 2nd-round TKO win against Alan Belcher at age 40 on March 2, 2024. He is on a 2-fight winning streak.
He has fought 23 times in the UFC, and has a record of 15 wins and 8 losses in the promotion.
Some of Junior dos Santos' best fights have been against Cain Velasquez, Frank Mir, Fabrício Werdum, Gabriel Gonzaga, Stefan Struve, Gilbert Yvel and Derrick Lewis.
Santos has 10 losses on his MMA record.
| # | Date | Opponent | Promotion | Weight | Round | Method | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33  | Mar 2, 2024 40 years, 1 months 23-10 (17) | 39 years, 10 months 19-8 (16) | HW | 2 | TKO | WIN Punches | |
32  | Sep 8, 2023 39 years, 7 months 22-10 (16) | 46 years, 1 months 24-9-1 (18) | HW | 3 | SD | WIN | |
31  | May 20, 2022 38 years, 3 months 21-10 (16) | 34 years, 5 months 8-3 (6) | HW | 3 | TKO | LOSS Shoulder injury | |
30  | Dec 12, 2020 36 years, 10 months 21-9 (16) | 30 years, 8 months 6-0 (5) | UFC | HW | 2 | TKO | LOSS Elbow |
29  | Aug 15, 2020 36 years, 6 months 21-8 (16) | 32 years, 4 months 10-1 (9) | UFC | HW | 2 | TKO | LOSS Punches |
28  | Jan 25, 2020 35 years, 11 months 21-7 (16) | 28 years, 11 months 12-2 (9) | UFC | HW | 2 | TKO | LOSS Punches |
27  | Jun 29, 2019 35 years, 4 months 21-6 (16) | 32 years, 9 months 13-3 (13) | UFC | HW | 1 | TKO | LOSS Punches |
26  | Mar 9, 2019 35 years, 1 months 21-5 (16) | 34 years, 1 months 21-6 (19) | UFC | HW | 2 | TKO | WIN Punches |
25  | Dec 2, 2018 34 years, 10 months 20-5 (15) | 25 years, 8 months 9-0 (8) | UFC | HW | 2 | TKO | WIN Punches |
24  | Jul 14, 2018 34 years, 5 months 19-5 (14) | 31 years, 9 months 16-1 (11) | UFC | HW | 5 | UD | WIN |
23  | May 13, 2017 33 years, 3 months 18-5 (14) | 34 years, 8 months 16-2 (13) | UFC | HW | 1 | TKO | LOSS Punches For UFC heavyweight title |
22  | Apr 10, 2016 32 years, 2 months 18-4 (14) | 34 years, 5 months 36-9 (33) | UFC | HW | 5 | UD | WIN |
21  | Dec 19, 2015 31 years, 10 months 17-4 (14) | 35 years, 7 months 39-14 (35) | UFC | HW | 2 | TKO | LOSS Punches |
20 | Dec 13, 2014 30 years, 10 months 17-3 (14) | 32 years, 3 months 12-1 (9) | UFC | HW | 5 | UD | WIN |
19  | Oct 19, 2013 29 years, 8 months 16-3 (14) | 31 years, 2 months 12-1 (10) | UFC | HW | 5 | TKO | LOSS Slam and punch For UFC heavyweight title |
18  | May 25, 2013 29 years, 3 months 16-2 (14) | 39 years, 2 months 9-7 (6) | UFC | HW | 3 | KO | WIN Spinning hook kick |
17 | Dec 29, 2012 28 years, 10 months 15-2 (13) | 30 years, 5 months 10-1 (9) | UFC | HW | 5 | UD | LOSS Lost UFC heavyweight title |
16  | May 26, 2012 28 years, 3 months 15-1 (13) | 33 years 16-5 (9) | UFC | HW | 2 | TKO | WIN Punches Defended UFC heavyweight title |
15 | Nov 12, 2011 27 years, 9 months 14-1 (12) | 29 years, 3 months 9-0 (8) | UFC | HW | 1 | KO | WIN Punches Won UFC heavyweight title |
14  | Jun 11, 2011 27 years, 4 months 13-1 (11) | 36 years, 5 months 12-1 (12) | UFC | HW | 3 | UD | WIN |
13  | Aug 7, 2010 26 years, 6 months 12-1 (11) | 34 years, 1 months 15-4 (13) | UFC | HW | 3 | UD | WIN |
12  | Mar 21, 2010 26 years, 1 months 11-1 (11) | 30 years, 10 months 11-4 (11) | UFC | HW | 1 | TKO | WIN Punches |
11  | Jan 2, 2010 25 years, 11 months 10-1 (10) | 33 years, 6 months 36-13-1 (36) | UFC | HW | 1 | TKO | WIN Punches |
10  | Sep 19, 2009 25 years, 7 months 9-1 (9) | 35 years 25-6-2 (22) | UFC | HW | 3 | TKO | WIN Submission to punch |
9  | Feb 21, 2009 25 years 8-1 (8) | 21 years 16-2 (15) | UFC | HW | 1 | TKO | WIN Punches |
8 | Oct 25, 2008 24 years, 8 months 7-1 (7) | 31 years, 2 months 11-3-1 (10) | UFC | HW | 1 | TKO | WIN Punches |
7 | May 24, 2008 24 years, 3 months 6-1 (6) | Geronimo dos Santos | HW | 1 | TKO | WIN Doctor stoppage | |
6 | Nov 10, 2007 23 years, 9 months 5-1 (5) | Joaquim Ferreira | LHW | 1 | SUB | LOSS Armbar | |
5 | Sep 29, 2007 23 years, 7 months 5-0 (5) | Jair Gonçalves | LHW | 1 | TKO | WIN Punches | |
4 | Apr 29, 2007 23 years, 2 months 4-0 (4) | Joaquim Ferreira | LHW | 1 | TKO | WIN Retirement | |
3 | Apr 29, 2007 23 years, 2 months 3-0 (3) | Edson Ramos | LHW | 1 | TKO | WIN Doctor stoppage | |
2  | Dec 9, 2006 22 years, 10 months 2-0 (2) | 27 years, 3 months 2-5 (1) | 1 | SUB | WIN Guillotine choke | ||
1 | Jul 16, 2006 22 years, 5 months 1-0 (1) | Jailson Silva Santos | 1 | KO | WIN Soccer kick |
