Drew Dober

Mixed martial arts career Early career Dober compiled an amateur record of 9–0 before turning professional in 2009.

Bellator Dober faced Nick Nolte at Bellator 16 on April 29, 2010. He won the fight via arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.

Independent promotions In the next three years, Dober would compile a 12–2 record in various promotions including Victory Fighting Championship and Titan Fighting Championship. He then appeared on The Ultimate Fighter.

The Ultimate Fighter In February 2012, it was revealed that Dober would be a participant on The Ultimate Fighter 15. He was defeated in the entry round by Daron Cruickshank via unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Dober stepped in for an injured Sérgio Moraes to face Sean Spencer at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale on November 30, 2013. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Dober next faced Nick Hein at UFC Fight Night 41 on May 31, 2014. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Dober faced former WEC Lightweight Champion Jamie Varner at UFC on Fox 13. He secured his biggest win to date, defeating Varner via rear-naked choke submission in the first round.

Dober faced Leandro Silva on March 21, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 62. Dober lost the fight via technical submission in the second round. Silva was attempting to secure a guillotine choke after dropping to the mat with Dober's neck secured in his arm. Dober defended and moved his body to the side to stave off being caught in the choke. Silva appeared to be losing his grip on the submission as Dober continued to work free. However, the referee stepped in and touched the fighters as if to motion that he was standing them up. In reality, he was stopping the fight due to submission despite the fact that Dober never tapped and was in no significant danger of being choked out from the hold. Despite the loss, UFC awarded Dober his win money with president Dana White stating that he would have liked to see the result overturned and the match declared a no contest. The fight was later overturned to a "No Contest" by the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) after the referee Eduardo Herdy admitted his mistake.

Dober then faced Efraín Escudero at UFC 188 on June 13, 2015. He lost the fight by guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Dober was expected to face Erik Koch on January 2, 2016 at UFC 195. However, Koch pulled out of the bout in early December citing injury and was replaced by Scott Holtzman. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Dober was expected to face Islam Makhachev on April 16, 2016 at UFC on Fox 19. After the weigh ins, the UFC announced that Makhachev had failed an out-of-competition drug screening, testing positive for the banned anti-ischemic meldonium. The match was cancelled.

A rescheduled bout with Erik Koch was expected to take place on September 10, 2016 at UFC 203. However on August 11, Koch pulled out again due to injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Jason Gonzalez. He won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Dober next faced Olivier Aubin-Mercier on December 10, 2016 at UFC 206. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Dober then faced Josh Burkman on July 29, 2017 at UFC 214. He won by first round knockout.

Drew faced Frank Camacho in a welterweight bout on January 27, 2018 at UFC on Fox 27. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night bonus.

Dober faced Jon Tuck in a lightweight bout on August 25, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 135. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Dober faced Beneil Dariush on March 9, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 146. He lost the fight via submission in the second round.

Dober faced Polo Reyes on June 29, 2019 at UFC on ESPN 3. He won the fight via knockout in the first round.

Dober faced Nasrat Haqparast on January 18, 2020 at UFC 246. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. This win earned him a Performance of the Night award.

Dober was expected to face Carlos Diego Ferreira on May 2, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Weidman. However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date. Dober instead faced Alexander Hernandez on May 13, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 171. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

The bout with Ferreira was rescheduled for November 7, 2020 at UFC on ESPN 17. However, Ferreira pulled out on October 22 due to an illness and the bout was scrapped.

Dober faced Islam Makhachev March 6, 2021 at UFC 259. He lost the fight via submission in round three.

Dober faced Brad Riddell on June 12, 2021 at UFC 263. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Dober was next expected to face Ricky Glenn at UFC Fight Night 204 on March 12, 2022. However, a week before the event, Glenn withdrew due to a torn groin and was replaced by Terrance McKinney. After being knocked down twice within the opening minute, Dober rallied and won the fight via technical knockout in round one.

Dober faced Rafael Alves on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277. He won the fight in the third round after knocking out Alves with a punch to the body. The win also earned Dober his third Performance of the Night award.

Dober faced Bobby Green on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 216. He won the fight via knockout in round two. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Dober faced Matt Frevola on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288. He lost the fight by TKO at the end of the first round.

Dober faced Ricky Glenn on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. With this win, Dober broke the record for most knockouts in UFC Lightweight division history. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Dober faced Renato Moicano on February 3, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 235. Although Dober landed punches that opened Moicano's face, Dober was dominated on the ground for the majority of the fight which led him to lose by unanimous decision.

Dober was scheduled to face Mike Davis on July 13, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 59. However, Davis was forced to withdraw due to a torn bicep and was replaced by Jean Silva, who fought two weeks prior at UFC 303. Dober lost the fight via doctor stoppage in the third round after being rendered unable to continue due to a cut above the left eye. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.

Dober faced Manuel Torres on March 29, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 64. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the first round.

Dober faced Kyle Prepolec on October 18, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 262. Despite receiving a one-point deduction for an illegal groin strike in the third round, Dober secured victory via technical knockout. The victory marked Dober’s tenth knockout in the UFC lightweight division, setting a new divisional record.

Dober faced Michael Johnson on March 7, 2026 at UFC 326. He won the fight by knockout in the second round. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Personal life Dober's met his first wife Gloria Hein, the sister of his UFC opponent Nick Hein, following their bout at UFC Fight Night 41 in Berlin, Germany. The two met at the post-fight after-party, and were married for two years before divorcing.

Dober married his second wife Hollis Casey in August 2021. They have one daughter together that was born in 2023. In October 2025, Dober revealed that he and his wife lost an unborn child through miscarriage during his training camp for his fight vs. Kyle Prepolec.

Outside of fighting, Dober enjoys playing video games. He has a YouTube channel.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Five times) Tied (Anderson Silva, Thiago Santos, Dustin Poirier & Anthony Johnson) for fifth most knockouts in UFC history (11) Fourth most finishes in UFC Lightweight division history (12) Sherdog 2022 Round of the Year MMA Fighting 2022 First Team MMA All-Star

Mixed martial arts record Win

Michael Johnson KO (punch) UFC 326

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kyle Prepolec TKO (knees and punches) UFC Fight Night: de Ridder vs. Allen

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Loss

Manuel Torres TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Moreno vs. Erceg

Mexico City, Mexico Loss

Jean Silva TKO (doctor stoppage) UFC on ESPN: Namajunas vs. Cortez

Denver, Colorado, United States Loss

Renato Moicano Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Imavov

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Ricky Glenn TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Matt Frevola TKO (punches) UFC 288

Newark, New Jersey, United States Win

Bobby Green KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Rafael Alves KO (punch to the body) UFC 277

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Terrance McKinney TKO (knee and punches) UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Brad Riddell Decision (unanimous) UFC 263

Glendale, Arizona, United States Loss

Islam Makhachev Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC 259

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Alexander Hernandez TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira

Jacksonville, Florida, United States Win

Nasrat Haqparast KO (punches) UFC 246

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Polo Reyes TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. dos Santos

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Loss

Beneil Dariush Submission (triangle armbar) UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos

Wichita, Kansas, United States Win

Jon Tuck Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick

Lincoln, Nebraska, United States Win

Frank Camacho Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2

Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | Win

Josh Burkman KO (punch) UFC 214

Anaheim, California, United States Loss

Olivier Aubin-Mercier Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 206

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Jason Gonzalez KO (punches) UFC 203

Cleveland, Ohio, United States Win

Scott Holtzman Decision (unanimous) UFC 195

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Efraín Escudero Submission (standing guillotine choke) UFC 188

Mexico City, Mexico NC

Leandro Silva NC (overturned) UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Jamie Varner Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Loss

Nick Hein Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Muñoz vs. Mousasi

Berlin, Germany Loss

Sean Spencer Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Tony Sims Decision (split) Fight to Win: Prize FC 4

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

T.J. O'Brien Submission (rear-naked choke) Victory FC 40

Ralston, Nebraska, United States Win

Aaron Derrow Decision (unanimous) Centurion Fights 1

St. Joseph, Missouri, United States Win

Sean Wilson Submission (rear-naked choke) Disorderly Conduct 15

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Win

Roberto Rojas Jr. Submission (rear-naked choke) Victory FC 38

Ralston, Nebraska, United States Loss

Will Brooks Decision (unanimous) Disorderly Conduct 10

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Win

Ted Worthington Submission (verbal) Victory FC 37

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

Jordan Johnson TKO (submission to punches) Disorderly Conduct 4

Omaha, Nebraska, United States Win

Sam Jackson Decision (unanimous) Victory FC 35

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Loss

Ramiro Hernandez KO (punches) Victory FC 34

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

Bobby Cooper Decision (unanimous) Titan FC 16

Kansas City, Kansas, United States Win

Kody Frank TKO (punches) Victory FC 33

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

Steve Simmons TKO (submission to punches) Fight to Win: The Professionals

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Jimmy Seipel TKO (submission to punches and elbows) Victory FC 32

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Win

Nick Nolte Submission (arm-triangle choke) Bellator 16

Kansas City, Missouri, United States Loss

Brandon Girtz Decision (unanimous) Victory FC 29

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States Loss

Chase Hackett Decision (unanimous) Fight to Win: Featherweight Grand Prix Final Round

Denver, Colorado, United States Win

Frank Caraballo TKO (punches) Victory FC 28

Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States