Daniel Weichel

Daniel Weichel (born November 22, 1984) is a German professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Oktagon MMA. He previously competed in Bellator MMA, M-1 Global and Shooto.

Background Born and raised in Germany, Weichel originally began training in Jujutsu at the age of 14, before transitioning into Brazilian jiu-jitsu a year later. Weichel also began training in Muay Thai and then wrestling when he was 17, with both freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as boxing. In 2014 Daniel received his blackbelt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu by Din Thomas.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Weichel made his professional MMA debut in May 2002. Over the next four and a half years of his career, he amassed a record of 15–2.

During this time, Weichel competed on a German mixed martial arts reality show titled M.A.X. (Martial Arts Xtreme) in 2006, where he made it to the final against Ivan Mussardo. However, the production shut down before the match could actually take place. The two did eventually meet in 2009, where Weichel won by unanimous decision.

M-1 Global Following a rough patch where he went 3-4 (including two losses to future UFC fighters Paul Daley and Dan Hardy), Weichel joined the Russian MMA organization M-1 Global, going 5–0 on their M-1 Challengers series.

Weichel eventually challenged for the M-1 Global Lightweight Championship as he faced Jose Figueroa in November 2011 at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson. He won the bout and title via knockout in the first round.

Weichel's reign as champion would be short lived though. He lost the belt in his first defense in June 2012 against Musa Khamanaev at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo. He lost the bout via submission in the first round.

Bellator MMA In September 2013, it was announced that Weichel had signed a contract with Bellator MMA and would compete in their Season Ten Featherweight Tournament.

Weichel made his Bellator debut in the Season Ten Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal facing Scott Cleve at Bellator 110 on February 28, 2014 he won via submission with a rear-naked choke.

Weichel fought against Matt Bessette at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014 in the Featherweight tournament semifinals. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Weichel faced Desmond Green in the Tournament Final at Bellator 119 on May 9, 2014. He won the fight via submission in the second round. He also became the final tournament winner as Bellator moves away from tournament era.

Weichel faced Pat Curran on February 13, 2015 at Bellator 133. He won the fight via split decision.

Replacing an injured Georgi Karakhanyan, Weichel faced Bellator Featherweight Champion Patrício Freire at Bellator 138 on June 19, 2015. Despite dropping Freire with a series of strikes the waning seconds of the first round, Weichel lost the fight via knockout when Freire rallied with a counter left hook early in the second round.

Weichel faced Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 147 on December 4, 2015. He won by unanimous decision.

Weichel next faced up-and-comer Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 159 on July 22, 2016. He won via split decision.

Weichel faced Brian Moore at Bellator 169 on December 16, 2016. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

Weichel faced John Teixeira at Bellator 177 on April 14, 2017. He won via split decision.

After four consecutive victories, Weichel was expected to face newly crowned featherweight champion, Patrício Freire, in a second fight at Bellator 188 on November 16, 2017. However, Freire pulled out of the fight due to multiple injuries. Weichel eventually faced Patricio Freire in a rematch in the main event at Bellator 203 on July 14, 2018. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

After the title fight, Weichel faced Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 210 on November 30, 2018. He lost the close fight via split decision.

As the opening round fight of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix First Round, Weichel faced Saul Rogers at Bellator 228 on September 28, 2019. Weichel won the fight via unanimous decision as he rocked Rogers late in the opening round.

In the quarterfinals, Weichel was initially expected to face Emmanuel Sanchez in a rematch in February 2020. However, the date got pushed back and they were next expected to face at Bellator 241 on March 13, 2020. However, the whole event was eventually cancelled due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. The bout was rescheduled and took place at Bellator 252 on November 12. Weichel lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Weichel faced Keoni Diggs on June 25, 2021 at Bellator 261. He won the close bout via split decision.

Weichel faced Pedro Carvalho at Bellator 270 on November 5, 2021. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Weichel faced Rob Whiteford on May 13, 2022 at Bellator 281. He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.

Weichel was set to face Akhmed Magomedov at Bellator 288 on November 18, 2022. However, Magomedov pulled out due to unknown reason and was replaced by Timur Khizriev. Weichel lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Weichel faced Mads Burnell on September 23, 2023 at Bellator 299. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. After the bout, Weichel retired from mixed martial arts competition.

Oktagon MMA Returning from retirement, Weichel faced Aboubakar Tounkara in the main event on September 20, 2025, at Oktagon 76. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Championships and accomplishments Bellator MMA Bellator Season Ten Featherweight Tournament Winner M-1 Global M-1 Global Lightweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Aboubakar Tounkara Decision (unanimous) Oktagon 76

Frankfurt, Germany Loss

Mads Burnell Decision (unanimous) Bellator 299

Dublin, Ireland Loss

Timur Khizriev Decision (unanimous) Bellator 288

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Rob Whiteford TKO (punches) Bellator 281

London, England Loss

Pedro Carvalho Decision (unanimous) Bellator 270

Dublin, Ireland Win

Keoni Diggs Decision (split) Bellator 261

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Loss

Emmanuel Sanchez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 252

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Saul Rogers Decision (unanimous) Bellator 228

Inglewood, California, United States Loss

Goiti Yamauchi Decision (split) Bellator 210

Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Patrício Pitbull Decision (split) Bellator 203

Rome, Italy Win

John Macapá Decision (split) Bellator 177

Budapest, Hungary Win

Brian Moore Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bellator 169

Dublin, Ireland Win

Emmanuel Sanchez Decision (split) Bellator 159

Mulvane, Kansas, United States Win

Georgi Karakhanyan Decision (unanimous) Bellator 147

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Patrício Pitbull KO (punch) Bellator 138

St. Louis, Missouri, United States Win

Pat Curran Decision (split) Bellator 133

Fresno, California, United States Win

Desmond Green Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 119

Rama, Ontario, Canada Win

Matt Bessette Decision (unanimous) Bellator 114

West Valley City, Utah, United States Win

Scott Cleve Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 110

Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Win

Artiom Damkovsky Submission (arm-triangle choke) M-1 Challenge 37

Orenburg, Russia Win

Georgi Stoyanov Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Challenge 36

Mytishchi, Russia Win

Semen Tyrlya Submission (rear-naked choke) Respect FC 8

Wuppertal, Germany Loss

Musa Khamanaev Submission (heel hook) M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Jose Figueroa KO (punches) M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson

Moscow, Russia, Win

Beau Baker Decision (unanimous) M-1 Challenge 26

Costa Mesa, California, United States Win

Magomedrasul Khasbulaev Technical Submission (triangle choke) M-1 Challenge 23

Moscow, Russia Win

Yuri Ivlev TKO (doctor stoppage) M-1 Challenge 21

Saint Petersburg, Russia Win

Avtandil Shoshiashvili Submission (rear-naked choke) Fight Night Merseburg 3

Spergau, Germany Loss

Rob Sinclair TKO (punches) BAMMA 3

Birmingham, England Win

Victor Kuku Submission (rear-naked choke) Tempel Fight School: Mix Fight Gala 9

Darmstadt, Germany Win

Ivan Musardo Decision (unanimous) Shooto: Switzerland 6

Zürich, Switzerland Win

Danial Sharifi Submission (guillotine choke) M-1 Challenge 18

Hilversum, Netherlands Win

Jimmy Sidoni TKO (punches) Tempel Fight School: Mix Fight Gala 8

Darmstadt, Germany Win

Fatih Dogan Submission (brabo choke) M-1 Challenge 13

Bourgas, Bulgaria Loss

Peter Irving Submission (rear-naked choke) Strike and Submit 8

Gateshead, England Loss

Dan Hardy TKO (elbows) Ultimate Force: Punishment

Doncaster, England Win

Ian Jones Submission (armbar) Gorilla Fight 2

Mannheim, Germany Loss

Jason Jones TKO (punch and knee) M-1 Challenge 1

Almere, Netherlands Win

Chas Jacquier Submission (choke) Tempel Fight School: Mix Fight Gala 6

Darmstadt, Germany Win

Fatih Balci Submission (triangle choke) Stapel Fighting Challenge 1

Stapel, Germany Loss

Paul Daley KO (knee) FX3: Fight Night 4

Reading, England Win

Amir Lekaj Submission (kimura) Martial Arts Xtreme 8

Berlin, Germany Win

Marcelo Lopez Decision (split) Martial Arts Xtreme 6

Berlin, Germany Win

Hugo Blatter Submission (rear-naked choke) Martial Arts Xtreme 4

Berlin, Germany Win

Josenildo Ramalho Decision (majority) Cage Warriors 23

Coventry, England Win

Dennis Siver Submission (rear-naked choke) Tempel Fight School: Mix Fight Gala 3

Darmstadt, Germany Loss

Thiago Tavares Submission (guillotine choke) Cage Warriors 20

Liverpool, England Win

Johan Antonsson Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Boris Jonstomp Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Mike Lucero Submission (guillotine choke) KOTC: Grudge Match

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Win

Joakim Engberg Decision (unanimous) European Vale Tudo 4

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Abdul Mohammed Decision (unanimous) Pride and Glory 3

Newcastle, England Win

Gaz Roriston Submission (keylock) European Vale Tudo 3

Copenhagen, Denmark Loss

Mattias Awad Decision (unanimous) European Vale Tudo 2

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Malte Janssen KO (head kick) Outsider Cup 2

Lübbecke, Germany Win

Masaya Takita Decision (unanimous) Shooto: 11/25 in Kitazawa Town Hall

Tokyo, Japan Win

Eduardo Guimarães KO (flying knee) Shooto Holland: Holland vs. the World

Culemborg, Netherlands Win

Vincent Latoel Submission (armbar) Shooto Holland: The Lords of the Ring

Deventer, Netherlands