| Bryan Battle | |
| Other Names: | The Butcher Pooh Bear |
| Birth Date: | 21 September 1994 |
| Birth Place: | Springfield, Maryland, U.S. |
| Weight Lb: | 170 |
| Weight Class: | Welterweight (2022-present) Middleweight (2018-2022) Light Heavyweight (2017-2018) Heavyweight (2017) |
| Reach: | 77 in[1] |
| Stance: | Orthodox |
| Fighting Out Of: | Charlotte, North Carolina, USA |
| Team: | Carolina Combat Sports and Fitness |
| Years Active: | 2017–present |
| Mma Kowin: | 4 |
| Mma Subwin: | 5 |
| Mma Decwin: | 2 |
| Mma Koloss: | 0 |
| Mma Subloss: | 1 |
| Mma Decloss: | 1 |
| Mma Nc: | 1 |
| Sherdog: | 249825 |
Bryan Battle (born September 21, 1994) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Competing professionally since 2019, Battle was the middleweight tournament winner in the 29th season of The Ultimate Fighter.[2]
Born in Maryland, Battle grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina.[3] During his childhood in Charlotte, he and his family were homeless for a short period of time, due to an accidental house fire caused by one of his cousins.[4]
Battle began training MMA at age 21 in 2016, when he weighed 300 lbs. Soon after, he decided to drop out of college to pursue a career as a mixed martial artist. Battle worked as a carpenter until he was able to make a living as a fighter.
Battle began competing in mixed martial arts in 2017 as, earning an amateur record of 8–2 and gaining notable wins over future UFC fighters such as Cody Brundage and Impa Kasanganay. During his amateur career, Battle fought at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. After turning professional in 2019, he fought in multiple regional promotions across his native North Carolina and the Southern United States, compiling an 5–1 professional record, with 4 stoppage wins.
In April 2021, it was announced that Battle would be a cast member on competing in the middleweight tournament.[5]
In the quarterfinal, Battle faced Kemran Lachinov and won the fight by unanimous decision.[6]
In the semifinal, Battle faced Andre Petroski and won the fight by ninja choke in round two.[7]
In the final, Battle was scheduled to face Tresean Gore on August 28, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 30.[8] However, Gore pulled out due to a meniscus injury and was replaced by Gilbert Urbina.[9] He won the tournament via rear-naked choke in round two.[10]
The match between Battle and Gore was rescheduled on February 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 200.[11] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[12]
Battle made his welterweight debut against Takashi Sato on August 6, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 40.[13] He won the fight via head kick knockout in the first round.[14] This win earning him the Performance of the Night award.[15]
Battle faced Rinat Fakhretdinov, replacing Michael Morales on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 216.[16] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[17]
Battle faced Gabriel Green, replacing Jake Matthews on May 13, 2023, at UFC on ABC 4.[18] At the weigh-ins, Battle weighed in at 173 pounds, two pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Battle was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Green.[19] He won the fight by knockout just 14 seconds into the first round.[20] This win earning him the Performance of the Night award, despite having missed weight.[21]
Battle faced A.J. Fletcher on September 23, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 228.[22] He won the fight via rear-naked choke in the second round.[23]
Battle faced Ange Loosa on March 16, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 239.[24] During the second round, Battle accidentally poked Loosa in the eye rendering him unable to continue. The fight was declared a no contest.[25]
Battle faced Kevin Jousset on September 28, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 243.[26] He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round and this win earning him the Performance of the Night award.[27] [28]
Battle is scheduled to face Randy Brown on December 7, 2024 at UFC 310.[29]
Battle is married and has two kids with his wife.[33]
|-|Win|align=center|11–2 (1)|Kevin Jousset|TKO (punches)|||align=center|2|align=center|3:47|Paris, France||-|NC|align=center||Ange Loosa|NC (accidental eye poke)|||align=center|2|align=center|1:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|10–2|A.J. Fletcher|Submission (rear-naked choke)|||align=center|2|align=center|4:32|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|9–2|Gabriel Green|KO (punch)|||align=center|1|align=center|0:14|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Loss|align=center|8–2|Rinat Fakhretdinov|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|8–1|Takashi Sato|KO (head kick)|||align=center|1|align=center|0:44|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|7–1|Tresean Gore|Decision (unanimous)|||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|6–1|Gilbert Urbina|Submission (rear naked choke)|||align=center|2|align=center|2:15|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|5–1|Ben Fowler|Submission (rear-naked choke)|Hardrock MMA 117||align=center|2|align=center|1:02|Shepherdsville, Kentucky, United States||-|Win|align=center|4–1|Josh Krizan|TKO (punches)|Hardrock MMA 116||align=center|2|align=center|4:40|Elizabethtown, Kentucky, United States||-|Win|align=center|3–1|Garrett Fosdyck|Submission (choke)|Showcase MMA 13||align=center|1|align=center|3:21|Kingsport, Tennessee, United States||-|Win|align=center|2–1|Aaron Chambers|Submission (triangle choke)|Fight for It 9||align=center|2|align=center|2:39|Hickory, North Carolina, United States||-|Loss|align=center|1–1|Nickalas Martino|Submission (armbar)|Fight for It 8||align=center|1|align=center|0:51|Hickory, North Carolina, United States||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Zac Dalen|Decision (unanimous)|Fight for It 7||align=center|3|align=center|5:00|Hickory, North Carolina, United States|[34] |-|Win|align=center|2–0|Andre Petroski|Submission (ninja choke)|rowspan=2|| (airdate)|align=center|2|align=center|2:05|rowspan=2|Las Vegas, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|1–0|Kemran Lachinov|Decision (unanimous)| (airdate)|align=center|2|align=center|5:00||-|Loss|align=center|8–2|Billy Elekana|Decision (split)|Tuff-N-Uff: Mayhem in Mesquite 16||align=center|3|align=center|3:00|Mesquite, Nevada, United States||-|Win|align=center|8–1|Donterry Woods|Submission (rear naked choke)|Ultimate Battle Grounds 2||align=center|1|align=center|1:43|Wilmington, North Carolina, United States||-|Win|align=center|7–1|Cody Brundage|Decision (split)|KOTC: Hard Knocks 3||align=center|3|align=center|3:00|Salamanca, New York, United States||-|Win|align=center|6–1|Impa Kasanganay|Decision (unanimous)|Fight Lab 59||align=center|5|align=center|4:00|Charlotte, North Carolina, United States||-|Win|align=center|5–1|Brandon Hunt Jr.|Submission (rear naked choke)|KOTC: No Retreat||align=center|2|align=center|2:02|Salamanca, New York, United States||-|Win|align=center|4–1|Brandon Schofield|Decision (unanimous)|Fight Lab 58||align=center|3|align=center|3:00|Charlotte, North Carolina, United States||-|Win|align=center|3–1|Harley Rabon|TKO (punches)|Warfare MMA 17||align=center|1|align=center|0:43|Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States||-|Win|align=center|2–1|Edward Sponeybarger|Submission (rear naked choke)|KOTC: Ultimate Mix||align=center|2|align=center|0:52|Salamanca, New York, United States||-|Win|align=center|1–1|Alex Pokki|TKO (punches)|Next Level Fight Club 8||align=center|1|align=center|2:28|Raleigh, North Carolina, United States||-|Loss|align=center|0–1|Michel Andre|TKO (punches)|LFA 8||align=center|1|align=center|1:54|Greenville, South Carolina, United States|[35]