# Don Madge

Don Madge (born 12 November 1990) is a South African retired professional mixed martial arts who formerly competed in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Professional Fighters League (PFL).

## Background

Madge started Karate at the age of six. He took up Muay Thai at the age of 14 and went on to compete in Thailand. In 2011 he returned to South Africa to pursue a career in MMA.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Extreme Fighting Championship

Madge made his professional MMA debut on 10 November 2011, in the Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC) at EFC 11. Madge won the Lightweight title for the first time on 27 June 2013, at EFC 20. He would then lose the title by split decision to Leon Mynhardt. In his next bout, he drew with Boyd Allen, before losing again to Mynhardt in his attempt to regain the title.
In his eleventh professional EFC fight, Madge won the EFC lightweight title for a second time on 8 April 2017, at EFC 58.
After EFC 58, Madge was hired as a sparring partner for UFC women's featherweight champion Cris Cyborg prior to Cyborg's successful title defence at UFC 219. Madge was then signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Madge made his UFC debut on 27 October 2018, against Te Edwards at UFC Fight Night 138 on 27 October 2018. He knocked Edwards out with a head kick fifteen seconds into the second round and earned a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus
Madge's next fight was on 7 September 2019, at UFC 242 - Khabib vs Poirier in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate. He was originally scheduled to fight Magomed Mustafaev, but Mustafaev was removed from the event for undisclosed reasons. Madge instead faced Farès Ziam and won the fight by unanimous decision.
Madge was expected to face Guram Kutateladze on 13 March 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad. However, Kutateladze pulled out in early February due to a knee injury and was replaced by Nasrat Haqparast. In turn, Madge pulled out on 6 March due to visa issues.
Guram Kutateladze and Don Madge were rescheduled for UFC on ESPN: Makhachev vs. Moisés on 17 July 2021. However, the bout was scrapped after Kutateladze once again withdrew from the bout citing injury and visa issues.
Due to visa issues Madge was released from UFC.

### Professional Fighters League

After his UFC release, Madge signed with Professional Fighters League.
2021 Season
Madge faced Nathan Williams on 27 October 2021, at PFL 10. Madge won the bout via rear naked choke in the second round.
2022 Season
Madge faced Raush Manfio on 20 April 2022, at PFL 1. He lost the bout via TKO in round three after Manfio dropped him with a right hand and finished him with punches.
2024 Season
After two years away from the sport, Madge returned to face Brennan Ward on 19 April 2024 at PFL 3 (2024). He won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.
Madge next faced Neiman Gracie at PFL 6 (2024) on June 28, 2024. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Madge was scheduled to face Magomed Umalatov in the semifinals of the 2024 Welterweight tournament on August 23, 2024 at PFL 9, however he pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Neiman Gracie.
On November 11, 2024, Madge announced his retirement from competition.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
** Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Te Edwards
* Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC)
** EFC Lightweight Championship (Two times)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 17 matches | 11 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 2 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 1 | 2 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 11–5–1 | Neiman Gracie | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 6 (2024) | June 28, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States | |
| Win | 11–4–1 | Brennan Ward | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PFL 3 (2024) | April 19, 2024 | 1 | 1:02 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Loss | 10–4–1 | Raush Manfio | TKO (punches) | PFL 1 (2022) | April 20, 2022 | 3 | 2:42 | Arlington, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 10–3–1 | Nathan Williams | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PFL 10 (2021) | October 27, 2021 | 2 | 2:15 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 9–3–1 | Farès Ziam | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 242 | September 7, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 8–3–1 | Te Edwards | KO (head kick) | UFC Fight Night: Volkan vs. Smith | October 27, 2018 | 2 | 0:14 | Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 7–3–1 | Dave Mazany | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC Worldwide 58 | April 8, 2017 | 2 | 2:02 | Cape Town, South Africa | Won the EFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–3–1 | Jadyson Costa | TKO (punches) | EFC Worldwide 52 | August 5, 2016 | 1 | 2:31 | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Win | 5–3–1 | Tyson Chelin | TKO (kicks) | EFC Worldwide 48 | April 22, 2016 | 1 | 0:54 | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Win | 4–3–1 | Regis Muyambo | TKO (punches) | EFC Africa 39 | May 7, 2015 | 1 | 4:59 | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Loss | 3–3–1 | Leon Mynhardt | Submission (guillotine choke) | EFC Africa 37 | February 21, 2015 | 1 | 3:08 | Johannesburg, South Africa | For the EFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Draw | 3–2–1 | Boyd Allen | Draw (split) | EFC Africa 30 | June 5, 2014 | 5 | 5:00 | Cape Town, South Africa | Catchweight (152 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 3–2 | Leon Mynhardt | Decision (split) | EFC Africa 25 | November 7, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Cape Town, South Africa | Lost the EFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–1 | Costa Ioannou | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC Africa 20 | June 27, 2013 | 5 | 1:35 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Won the EFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–1 | Hector Britts | Submission (rear-naked choke) | EFC Africa 17 | November 23, 2012 | 1 | 0:00 | Johannesburg, South Africa | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Leon Mynhardt | TKO (punches) | EFC Africa 13 | April 13, 2012 | 3 | 3:23 | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Win | 1–0 | Wade Groth | TKO (knees) | EFC Africa 11 | November 10, 2011 | 1 | 2:56 | Johannesburg, South Africa | Lightweight debut. |