Dennis Bermudez

Dennis Ross Bermudez (born December 13, 1986) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor from 2009 to 2019, he made a name for himself mainly fighting on the East Coast, and was a competitor on Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller, where he became the runner-up.

Wrestling Bermudez began wrestling in 2000. Coached by Scott Wickham, he held a high school record of 112-23. From high school, he went on to wrestle at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania where in 2007 he was ranked 22nd in the nation at the Division 1 level. Bermudez then became a college free-style All-American during a match in Akron, Ohio.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Bermudez first started training mixed martial arts in Saugerties, New York, his home town, in 2009. He later went on to train at Blackman MMA in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He trained at Blackman MMA for nearly two years as he competed as an amateur and professional. Bermudez competed in four amateur bouts before earning his professional license, finishing his amateur career with a perfect record of four wins and no losses.

Bermudez next faced Pablo Garza at UFC on Fox 3 on May 5, 2012. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Bermudez fought Tommy Hayden on August 11, 2012, at UFC 150. Bermudez won late into round one after clipping Hayden with a front kick to the chest, a straight right to the face then catching him in a guillotine choke, causing Hayden to submit. The performance earned Bermudez Submission of the Night honors.

Bermudez next faced Matt Grice on February 23, 2013, at UFC 157. Bermudez won via split decision. The back and forth action earned both fighters Fight of the Night honors and much praise from MMA observers proclaiming it was an early front runner for "Fight of the Year".

Bermudez faced Max Holloway on May 25, 2013, at UFC 160. He won the fight via split decision. 11 out of 11 media outlets scored the bout to Holloway.

Bermudez was briefly scheduled to face Nik Lentz on November 6, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 31. However, Lentz was pulled from the pairing with Bermudez in favor of a bout with Chad Mendes on December 14, 2013, at UFC on Fox 9. Bermudez instead fought Steven Siler as a replacement opponent. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Bermudez next faced Jimy Hettes on March 15, 2014, at UFC 171. He won the fight via TKO in the third round and won his first Performance of the Night bonus award.

In his highest profile fight to date, Bermudez faced Clay Guida on July 26, 2014, at UFC on Fox 12. He won the bout via submission in the second round, and earned a Performance of the Night bonus award for the second time in a row.

Bermudez faced Ricardo Lamas on November 15, 2014, at UFC 180. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Bermudez faced Jeremy Stephens on July 11, 2015, at UFC 189. After a close first two rounds, he lost the fight by TKO in the third round.

Bermudez was expected to face Maximo Blanco on January 17, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 81. However, Bermudez pulled out of the fight in early December citing injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Luke Sanders. Following a quick recovery, Bermudez was rebooked and he faced Tatsuya Kawajiri on February 21, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 83. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Bermudez faced Rony Jason on August 6, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 92. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Bermudez faced returning veteran Chan Sung Jung on February 4, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 104. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.

Bermudez faced Darren Elkins on July 22, 2017, at UFC on Fox 25. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

Bermudez faced Andre Fili on January 27, 2018 at UFC on Fox 27. He lost the fight via split decision.

Bermudez faced Rick Glenn on July 14, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 133. He lost the fight via split decision.

Bermudez faced Te Edwards in a lightweight bout on January 19, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 143. He won the fight via unanimous decision. He announced his retirement after the fight, leaving his gloves in the Octagon.

Personal life Bermudez is of Puerto Rican and British descent. He has three children: two sons named Bryson and Maddox (with his then-girlfriend Lindsey Kuhn), and a daughter named Lulu (with his current partner Nina Sea).

Bermudez graduated from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2009 with a degree in anthropology.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Submission of the Season (The Ultimate Fighter 14) Fight of the Night (Two times) Second most control time in UFC Featherweight division history (1:10:49)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Te Edwards Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw

Brooklyn, New York, United States Loss

Rick Glenn Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov

Boise, Idaho, United States Loss

Andre Fili Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Loss

Darren Elkins Decision (split) UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum

Uniondale, New York, United States Loss

Chan Sung Jung KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie

Houston, Texas, United States Win

Rony Jason Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Win

Tatsuya Kawajiri Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Cowboy vs. Cowboy

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Jeremy Stephens TKO (flying knee and punches) UFC 189

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Ricardo Lamas Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 180

Mexico City, Mexico Win

Clay Guida Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. Brown

San Jose, California, United States Win

Jimy Hettes TKO (punches and knee) UFC 171

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Steven Siler Decision (unanimous) UFC: Fight for the Troops 3

Fort Campbell, Kentucky, United States Win

Max Holloway Decision (split) UFC 160

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Matt Grice Decision (split) UFC 157

Anaheim, California, United States Win

Tommy Hayden Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 150

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Pablo Garza Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller

East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States Loss

Diego Brandão Submission (straight armbar) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jordan Rinaldi Submission (rear-naked choke) PA Fighting Championships 4

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States Loss

Drew Fickett Submission (rear-naked choke) Shine Fights 3

Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States Win

Shannon Gugerty Decision (unanimous) Shine Fights 3

Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States Win

Joey Carroll Decision (unanimous) PA Fighting Championships 3

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Kevin Roddy Decision (unanimous) M-1 Selection 2010: The Americas Round 1

Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Win

Jeremiah Gurley TKO (punches) Deathroll MMA 2

Monessen, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Marcos Maciel TKO (punches) PA Fighting Championships 2

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Jimmy Seipel Submission (guillotine choke) Asylum Fight League 25

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Win

Chris Connor TKO (punches) PA Fighting Championships 1

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States Mixed martial arts exhibition record Win

Akira Corassani Submission (guillotine choke)

(airdate)

Win

Stephen Bass TKO (punches) (airdate)

Win

Jimmie Rivera TKO (punches) (airdate)