Marcus Brimage

Mixed martial arts career Early career Brimage continued to work out, but was still looking to keep his competitive spirit alive. Brimage began training at a local Muay Thai gym by recommendation from one of his staff sergeants in the military. There Brimage met Chris Connelly, with whom he later opened up a gym, Spartan Fitness, in 2006. Shortly after Brimage began fighting as an amateur, collecting a 10–0 record before turning professional in 2007.

Professional career In March 2007 Brimage made his professional debut for Georgia Fighting Championships. Brimage fought and defeated Jason Kwast via unanimous decision. Ten months later Brimage returned to competition against future Bellator fighter Bryan Goldsby. Brimage defeated Goldsby via TKO in the second round of the fight.

A month after his second professional fight Brimage was selected for BET's reality television show Iron Ring. Brimage lost his only fight for the promotion against Joey Camacho via submission. Due to injuries Brimage was forced into a more than two-year hiatus from MMA. Brimage again returned to MMA against former UFC veteran Kyle Bradley, defeating him via first-round TKO.

Before going to appear on The Ultimate Fighter 14 Brimage moved to Coconut Creek, Florida, to train full-time with the American Top Team.

The Ultimate Fighter Brimage was selected to appear on both The Ultimate Fighter 8 and The Ultimate Fighter: United States vs. United Kingdom but due to injuries was never allowed to get onto the show. In 2011, Brimage dropped to the featherweight division, and signed with the UFC to compete on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller. In the first episode, Brimage fought Bryson Wailehua-Hansen; winning via TKO in the second round. The win gained Brimage entry into the Ultimate Fighter house. He was selected as a part of Team Bisping.

Brimage next fought against former WEC fighter Bryan Caraway. Brimage lost the fight in the second round via submission (rear-naked choke).

Brimage then faced Strikeforce import Maximo Blanco, on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145. After three close, methodical rounds, Brimage won the fight via split decision.

Brimage fought undefeated featherweight prospect Jimy Hettes on September 22, 2012, at UFC 152. Brimage defeated Hettes via unanimous decision, giving Hettes his first professional loss.

Brimage faced UFC newcomer Conor McGregor on April 6, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 9. He lost the fight in just over a minute of the first round by TKO.

After a year off due to injuries, Brimage returned to face Russell Doane in a bantamweight bout on July 5, 2014, at UFC 175. He lost the fight by split decision.

Brimage was expected to face Erik Pérez on November 15, 2014, at UFC 180. However, Pérez pulled out of the bout in mid-October citing a shoulder injury.

Brimage was quickly rescheduled to fight Jumabieke Tuerxun on November 8, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 55. He was victorious in the first round after knocking out Tuerxun with a head kick and follow-up punches.

Brimage faced promotional newcomer Cody Garbrandt on January 3, 2015, at UFC 182. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.

Brimage was expected to face Ian Entwistle on July 18, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 72. However, Entwistle pulled out of the fight in late June for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Jimmie Rivera. He lost the fight via KO in the first round. Subsequently, Brimage was released from the promotion.

Post-UFC career Brimage dropped his third loss in a row when he took on bantamweight prospect Soo Chul Kim at Road FC 29 on March 12, 2016. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Brimage faced Leonardo Morales at MMA War 1 on June 25, 2016. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Over five years removed from his previous bout, Brimage, replacing injured Derek Campos, faced Kyle Bochniak at XMMA 2 on July 30, 2021. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

On January 25, 2023, Brimage announced his retirement from MMA.

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Kyle Bochniak Decision (unanimous) XMMA 2: Saunders vs. Nijem

Greenville, South Carolina, United States Loss

Leonardo Morales Decision (unanimous) Viva Nicaragua Canal 13: MMA War

Managua, Nicaragua Return to Featherweight. Loss

Soo Chul Kim Decision (unanimous) Road FC 029

Wonju, South Korea Loss

Jimmie Rivera KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Leites

Glasgow, Scotland Loss

Cody Garbrandt TKO (punches) UFC 182

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jumabieke Tuerxun KO (head kick) UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Bisping

Sydney, Australia Loss

Russell Doane Decision (split) UFC 175

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Conor McGregor TKO (punches) UFC on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi

Stockholm, Sweden Win

Jimy Hettes Decision (unanimous) UFC 152

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Win

Maximo Blanco Decision (split) UFC 145

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Stephen Bass Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Kyle Bradley TKO (punches) USA MMA 13

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States Loss

Joey Camacho Submission (choke) Iron Ring

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Win

Bryan Goldsby TKO (punches) Xtreme Freestyle Fighting 7

Birmingham, Alabama, United States Win

Jason Kwast Decision (unanimous) Georgia FC 2

Georgia, United States Bare knuckle record Loss

Trevor Loken TKO (punches) BKFC 35

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States Draw

Will Shutt Draw (split) BKFC 22

Miami, Florida, United States