# Bryan Battle

Bryan Christopher 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.

## Background

Born in Maryland, Battle grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. 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.
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.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

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.

### The Ultimate Fighter 29

In April 2021, it was announced that Battle would be a cast member on The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega competing in the middleweight tournament.
In the quarterfinal, Battle faced Kemran Lachinov and won the fight by unanimous decision.
In the semifinal, Battle faced Andre Petroski and won the fight by ninja choke in round two.
In the final, Battle was scheduled to face Tresean Gore on August 28, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 30. However, Gore pulled out due to a meniscus injury and was replaced by Gilbert Urbina. He won the tournament via rear-naked choke in round two.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

The match between Battle and Gore was rescheduled on February 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 200. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Battle made his welterweight debut against Takashi Sato on August 6, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 40. He won the fight via head kick knockout in the first round. This win earning him the Performance of the Night award.
Battle faced Rinat Fakhretdinov, replacing Michael Morales on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 216. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Battle faced Gabriel Green, replacing Jake Matthews on May 13, 2023, at UFC on ABC 4. 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. He won the fight by knockout just 14 seconds into the first round. This win earning him the Performance of the Night award, despite having missed weight.
Battle faced A.J. Fletcher on September 23, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 228. He won the fight via rear-naked choke in the second round.
Battle faced Ange Loosa on March 16, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 239. During the second round, Battle accidentally poked Loosa in the eye rendering him unable to continue. The fight was declared a no contest.
Battle faced Kevin Jousset on September 28, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 243. He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round and this win earning him the Performance of the Night award.
Battle faced Randy Brown on December 7, 2024 at UFC 310. At the weigh-ins, Battle weighed in at 175 pounds, four pounds over the welterweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Battle was fined 30 percent of his purse which went to Brown. Battle won the fight by split decision.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** The Ultimate Fighter 29 Middleweight Tournament Winner
** Performance of the Night (Three times) vs. Takashi Sato, Gabriel Green and Kevin Jousset
* Fight Lab
** Fight Lab Light Heavyweight Championship (One time; former)

## Personal life

Battle is married and has two kids with his wife.

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 15 matches | 12 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 12–2 (1) | Randy Brown | Decision (split) | UFC 310 | December 7, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout; Battle missed weight. |
| Win | 11–2 (1) | Kevin Jousset | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis | September 28, 2024 | 2 | 3:47 | Paris, France | Performance of the Night. |
| NC | 10–2 (1) | Ange Loosa | NC (accidental eye poke) | UFC Fight Night: Tuivasa vs. Tybura | March 16, 2024 | 2 | 1:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Accidental eye poke rendered Loosa unable to continue. |
| Win | 10–2 | A.J. Fletcher | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Fiziev vs. Gamrot | September 23, 2023 | 2 | 4:32 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–2 | Gabriel Green | KO (punch) | UFC on ABC: Rozenstruik vs. Almeida | May 13, 2023 | 1 | 0:14 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | Catchweight (173 lb) bout; Battle missed weight. Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 8–2 | Rinat Fakhretdinov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Takashi Sato | KO (head kick) | UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill | August 6, 2022 | 1 | 0:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Welterweight debut. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 7–1 | Tresean Gore | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Strickland | February 5, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Gilbert Urbina | Submission (rear naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Barboza vs. Chikadze | August 28, 2021 | 2 | 2:15 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Won The Ultimate Fighter 29 Middleweight Tournament. |
| Win | 5–1 | Ben Fowler | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Hardrock MMA 117 | February 6, 2021 | 2 | 1:02 | Shepherdsville, Kentucky, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Josh Krizan | TKO (punches) | Hardrock MMA 116 | November 6, 2020 | 2 | 4:40 | Elizabethtown, Kentucky, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Garrett Fosdyck | Submission (choke) | Showcase MMA 13 | August 15, 2020 | 1 | 3:21 | Kingsport, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Aaron Chambers | Submission (triangle choke) | Fight for It 9 | September 14, 2019 | 2 | 2:39 | Hickory, North Carolina, United States | |
| Loss | 1–1 | Nickalas Martino | Submission (armbar) | Fight for It 8 | November 23, 2019 | 1 | 0:51 | Hickory, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Zac Dalen | Decision (unanimous) | Fight for It 7 | July 13, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Hickory, North Carolina, United States | Middleweight debut. |
| Exhibition record breakdown | Exhibition record breakdown | |
| 2 matches | 2 wins | 0 losses |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Win | 2–0 | Andre Petroski | Submission (ninja choke) | The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega | August 3, 2021 (airdate) | 2 | 2:05 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter 29 Semifinal. |
| Win | 1–0 | Kemran Lachinov | Decision (unanimous) | The Return of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Volkanovski vs. Team Ortega | June 29, 2021 (airdate) | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter 29 Quarterfinal. |
| Amateur record breakdown | Amateur record breakdown | |
| 10 matches | 8 wins | 2 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 1 |
| By submission | 3 | 0 |
| By decision | 3 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 8–2 | Billy Elekana | Decision (split) | Tuff-N-Uff: Mayhem in Mesquite 16 | December 15, 2018 | 3 | 3:00 | Mesquite, Nevada, United States | For the TUFF Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–1 | Donterry Woods | Submission (rear naked choke) | Ultimate Battle Grounds 2 | August 25, 2018 | 1 | 1:43 | Wilmington, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 7–1 | Cody Brundage | Decision (split) | KOTC: Hard Knocks 3 | July 28, 2018 | 3 | 3:00 | Salamanca, New York, United States | |
| Win | 6–1 | Impa Kasanganay | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Lab 59 | June 22, 2018 | 5 | 4:00 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | Won the Fight Lab Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–1 | Brandon Hunt Jr. | Submission (rear naked choke) | KOTC: No Retreat | May 12, 2018 | 2 | 2:02 | Salamanca, New York, United States | |
| Win | 4–1 | Brandon Schofield | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Lab 58 | March 17, 2018 | 3 | 3:00 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Harley Rabon | TKO (punches) | Warfare MMA 17 | December 15, 2017 | 1 | 0:43 | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 2–1 | Edward Sponeybarger | Submission (rear naked choke) | KOTC: Ultimate Mix | November 18, 2017 | 2 | 0:52 | Salamanca, New York, United States | |
| Win | 1–1 | Alex Pokki | TKO (punches) | Next Level Fight Club 8 | September 16, 2017 | 1 | 2:28 | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | |
| Loss | 0–1 | Michel Andre | TKO (punches) | LFA 8 | April 7, 2017 | 1 | 1:54 | Greenville, South Carolina, United States | |