Gregory Rodrigues

Gregory Felipe Santos Rodrigues (born February 17, 1992) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is an eight-time National BJJ Champion. He was the Smash Global MMA Middleweight Champion and former Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) Middleweight Champion. As of August 22, 2026, he is #7 in the Meta UFC middleweight rankings.

Background Born in Porto Velho, Gregory came to Manaus when he was still four months old. He was introduced to martial arts since he was five years old, starting out with capoeira, before migrating to jiu-jitsu at 8 years old and eventually becoming a black belt under Senseí Henrique Machado, who was also Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza’s jiu-jitsu coach. He became an eight-time national jiu-jitsu champion, jiu-jitsu world champion, and professional world champion in Abu Dhabi. He also trained in Olympic wrestling with professor Waldeci, joining the Brazilian wrestling cadet team and becoming the runner-up at Pan American wrestling championships in Nicaragua. In 2014, he moved to Rio de Janeiro to start his professional MMA career.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Starting his professional career in 2014, Rodrigues went 7–2 fighting mostly on the Brazilian regional scene, picking up wins in promotions such as ACB, where he picked up a first-round TKO victory at ACB 73 and winning the Smash Global Middleweight title also picking up a unanimous decision win at LFA 71.

He was invited to compete against Jordan Williams at Dana White's Contender Series 33 on September 15, 2020. He lost the fight via first-round knockout.

He would make his return to LFA, entering the four-man tournament for the LFA Middleweight Championship. In the first round, Rodrigues faced Al Matavao at LFA 102, where he knocked Matavao out in the second round. In the finals at LFA 108, Rodrigues stopped Josh Fremd within a round to claim the vacant LFA Middleweight Championship. Within days off the victory, Rodrigues was asked to compete in the UFC on short notice.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Rodrigues, as a replacement for Maki Pitolo, faced Duško Todorović on June 5, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 189. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Rodrigues faced Jun Yong Park on October 23, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 196. He won the fight via knockout in round two. This fight earned him Fight of the Night award.

Rodrigues faced Armen Petrosyan on February 26, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 202. He lost the fight via controversial split decision. 10 out of 14 media outlets scored the fight for Rodrigues.

Rodrigues faced Julian Marquez, replacing Wellington Turman, on June 18, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 37. He won the bout in the first round via knockout. This win earned him his first Performance of the Night award.

Rodrigues faced Chidi Njokuani on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210. He won the fight via technical knockout in round two. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Rodrigues was scheduled to face Brad Tavares on January 21, 2023, at UFC 283. However, Tavares withdrawn from the bout due to an injury, and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Brunno Ferreira. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Rodrigues faced Denis Tiuliulin on August 19, 2023, at UFC 292. The bout was originally set for June 24, 2023, at UFC on ABC 5, but was postponed after Tiuliulin withdrew due to undisclosed reasons. He won the bout via knockout in round one.

Rodrigues faced Brad Tavares on February 10, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 236. He won the bout by technical knockout in the third round.

As a replacement for Robert Bryczek who withdrew for unknown reasons, Rodrigues faced Christian Leroy Duncan on July 27, 2024 at UFC 304. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Rodrigues faced former UFC Middleweight Championship challenger Jared Cannonier in the main event on February 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 251. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the fourth round. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.

Rodrigues faced Jack Hermansson on June 28, 2025, at UFC 317. He won the fight by knockout at the end of the first round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Rodrigues faced Roman Kopylov on November 15, 2025, at UFC 322. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Rodrigues faced Brunno Ferreira in a rematch on March 7, 2026, at UFC 326, replacing Paulo Costa, who withdrew for undisclosed reasons. He won the fight by knockout in the first round. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Rodrigues faced fellow former LFA Middleweight Champion Anthony Hernandez in the main event on August 22, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 285. He won the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (Four times) UFC Honors Awards 2022: Fan's Choice Comeback of the Year Nominee Legacy Fighting Alliance LFA Middleweight Champion (One time)

Mixed martial arts record Win

Anthony Hernandez Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Brunno Ferreira KO (punch) UFC 326

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Roman Kopylov Decision (unanimous) UFC 322

New York City, New York, United States Win

Jack Hermansson KO (punch) UFC 317

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Jared Cannonier TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Christian Leroy Duncan Decision (unanimous) UFC 304

Manchester, England Win

Brad Tavares TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Denis Tiuliulin KO (elbows) UFC 292

Boston, Massachusetts, United States Loss

Brunno Ferreira KO (punch) UFC 283

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Chidi Njokuani TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Song

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Julian Marquez KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Emmett

Austin, Texas, United States Loss

Armen Petrosyan Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Makhachev vs. Green

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Park Jun-yong KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Duško Todorović Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Sakai

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Josh Fremd KO (punches) LFA 108

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States Win

Al Matavao KO (punch) LFA 102

Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States Loss

Jordan Williams KO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 33

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Brandon Hester KO (body kick) SMASH Global 9

Hollywood, California, United States Win

Tanner Saraceno Decision (unanimous) LFA 71

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Edilberto de Oliveira Submission (armbar) Jaguar Combat 1

Manaus, Brazil Win

Umar Gaisumov TKO (punches) ACB 73

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Robert Reed TKO (submission to punches) Island Fights 39

Pensacola, Florida, United States Win

Marco Aurélio Submission (heel hook) Face to Face 13

São Gonçalo, Brazil Loss

Renato Rangel Decision (split) Face to Face 11

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Win

Douglas Carvalho Submission (armbar) Face to Face 9

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Loss

Bruno Lopes TKO (punches) Jungle Fight 73

São Paulo, Brazil