# Don'Tale Mayes

Don'Tale O'Neil Mayes (born January 16, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

## Background

Born and raised in Kentucky, Mayes begun training martial arts to discharge his aggression. He initially picked up judo before transitioning to other disciplines as well. In judo he claimed Kansas and Indiana state championships. Mayes attended Ancilla College but did not receive a degree.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Mayes competed as an amateur from 2014 to 2015, compiling an undefeated 8–0 record. Mayes then compiled a 3-1 professional record, winning the Hoosier FC Heavyweight Championship in only his second fight. He was invited to participate in Dana White's Contender Series 8 of Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series. Mayes faced Allen Crowder, losing by technical knockout in the third round. He appeared twice more on the Contender Series, winning both fights by stoppage, earning his UFC contract on the second try.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Don'Tale Mayes made his UFC debut against Ciryl Gane on October 26, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren. He lost the fight by a heel hook in the third round.
Mayes faced Rodrigo Nascimento on May 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris. He lost the fight via second round rear naked choke.
Mayes faced Roque Martinez on November 14, 2020 UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Mayes was scheduled to face Tai Tuivasa on March 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland. However, Mayes was removed from the fight during the week leading up to the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Harry Hunsucker.
Mayes faced Josh Parisian on December 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus. He won the bout via TKO in the third round.
Mayes was scheduled to face Justin Tafa on July 30, 2022, at UFC 277. Tafa pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Hamdy Abdelwahab on July 18. Mayes lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision. However, the fight was later ruled a no contest after Abdelwahab was suspended by USADA, due to Abdelwahab failing to disclose a history of using Methenolone before joining the UFC and testing positive thereafter.
Mayes faced Augusto Sakai on February 25, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 220. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Mayes faced Andrei Arlovski on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.
Mayes faced Rodrigo Nascimento in a rematch on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Mayes faced Caio Machado on April 27, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 55. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Mayes faced Shamil Gaziev on August 3, 2024, at UFC on ABC 7. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Mayes faced Valter Walker on February 15, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 251. He lost the fight via a heel hook submission in the first round.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Hoosier Fight Club
** Hoosier FC Heavyweight Championship (One time)

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 20 matches | 11 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 1 |
| By submission | 1 | 3 |
| By decision | 4 | 3 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 11–8 (1) | Valter Walker | Submission (heel hook) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Rodrigues | February 15, 2025 | 1 | 1:17 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–7 (1) | Shamil Gaziev | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov | August 3, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 11–6 (1) | Caio Machado | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez | April 27, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 10–6 (1) | Rodrigo Nascimento | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis | November 4, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| Win | 10–5 (1) | Andrei Arlovski | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi | June 3, 2023 | 2 | 3:17 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 9–5 (1) | Augusto Sakai | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen | February 25, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| NC | 9–4 (1) | Hamdy Abdelwahab | NC (overturned) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Originally a split decision win for Abdelwahab; overturned after he tested positive for methenolone. |
| Win | 9–4 | Josh Parisian | TKO (elbows) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus | December 18, 2021 | 3 | 3:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 8–4 | Roque Martinez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos | November 14, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 7–4 | Rodrigo Nascimento | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris | May 16, 2020 | 2 | 2:05 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 7–3 | Ciryl Gane | Submission (heel hook) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren | October 26, 2019 | 3 | 4:46 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 7–2 | Ricardo Prasel | TKO (punches) | Dana White's Contender Series 20 | July 16, 2019 | 1 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 | Nkemdirim Oti | Submission (verbal) | V3 Fights 71 | November 17, 2018 | 3 | 2:15 | Robinsonville, Mississippi, United States | |
| Win | 5–2 | Mitchell Sipe | TKO (punches) | Dana White's Contender Series 15 | July 31, 2018 | 2 | 4:49 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 4–2 | Mohammed Usman | Decision (unanimous) | Victory FC 60 | April 14, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Loss | 3–2 | Allen Crowder | TKO (punches and elbows) | Dana White's Contender Series 8 | August 29, 2017 | 3 | 4:12 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 3–1 | Demoreo Dennis | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 9 | April 14, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States | |
| Loss | 2–1 | Kenny Fredenburg | DQ (illegal elbow) | RFA 46 | December 9, 2016 | 1 | 2:06 | Branson, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Arnold Adams | TKO (submission to punches) | Hoosier Fight Club 29 | June 4, 2016 | 5 | 3:09 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | Won the Hoosier FC Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 1–0 | Harry Hunsucker | TKO (submission to punches) | Hardrock MMA 77 | February 6, 2016 | 1 | 2:12 | Shepherdsville, Kentucky, United States | Heavyweight debut. |