# John Makdessi

John Makdessi (born May 3, 1985) is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

## Background

Makdessi was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 3, 1985, and is a first-generation Lebanese-Canadian born to Lebanese parents. His martial arts training started with Tae Kwon Do at the age of six. When Makdessi started high school, his dojo closed, and he could no longer continue. Towards the end of high school at the age of 19, he found a karate dojo where he learned Shotokan. Makdessi spent a lot of his time competing in kickboxing tournaments, and in 2006 won a gold medal in the USKBA. After going 22–0 in kickboxing, Makdessi began training in mixed martial arts.

## Mixed martial arts career
### Early career

Makdessi made his professional MMA debut in 2008 and compiled an undefeated record of 7-0 before being signed by the UFC.

### Ultimate Fighting Championship

Makdessi signed with the UFC in 2010. He made his promotional debut on December 11, 2010, at UFC 124 in Montreal, winning a dominant (30-27, 30–27, 30–26) decision over Pat Audinwood.
Makdessi was expected to face TUF 12 winner Jonathan Brookins on April 30, 2011, at UFC 129. Brookins pulled out of the bout and was replaced by another TUF 12 alum in Kyle Watson, who Makdessi knocked out with a spinning backfist in the third round.
Makdessi was expected to face Paul Taylor on August 14, 2011, at UFC on Versus 5, but withdrew due to injury.
Makdessi suffered the first loss of his career to Dennis Hallman on December 10, 2011, at UFC 140, via first-round rear naked choke.
Makdessi lost a unanimous decision to fellow striker Anthony Njokuani on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145.
Makdessi next defeated Sam Stout by unanimous decision on November 17, 2012, at UFC 154.
Makdessi then fought Daron Cruickshank at UFC 158 on March 16, 2013. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Makdessi was expected to face Edson Barboza on July 6, 2013, at UFC 162. Makdessi pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Rafaello Oliveira.
Makdessi knocked out Renée Forte in the first round on September 21, 2013, at UFC 165.
Makdessi lost a unanimous decision to Alan Patrick at UFC 169 on February 1, 2014.
Makdessi was expected to face Abel Trujillo on April 25, 2015, at UFC 186. Trujillo pulled out of the fight citing an injury, and was replaced on April 1 by promotional newcomer Shane Campbell. Makdessi won the fight via TKO in the first round.
Less than a month after his win, Makdessi returned to the octagon as a replacement for injured Khabib Nurmagomedov against Donald Cerrone on May 23, 2015, at UFC 187. Makdessi lost the fight via TKO after his jaw was broken with a head kick in the second round.
Makdessi faced Yancy Medeiros on December 12, 2015, at UFC 194. He lost the fight by split decision.
Makdessi next faced Mehdi Baghdad on July 7, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 90. He was awarded a split decision victory.
Makdessi faced Lando Vannata on December 10, 2016, at UFC 206. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.
Makdessi was expected to face Sage Northcutt on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. In turn, the fight was canceled on July 14 as both fighters cited injuries.
Makdessi faced Abel Trujillo on December 16, 2017, at UFC on Fox 26. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Makdessi faced Ross Pearson on July 28, 2018, at UFC on Fox 30. He won the fight by unanimous decision. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.
Makdessi was expected to face Carlos Diego Ferreira on December 8, 2018, at UFC 231. However, on November 28, 2018, it was reported that Makdessi was removed from the card and replaced by Jesse Ronson.
Makdessi was expected to face Nasrat Haqparast on March 23, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 148. However, on March 13, 2019, it was reported that Haqparast was pulled from the bout due to injury and was replaced by Jesus Pinedo. Makdessi won the fight via unanimous decision.
Makdessi was scheduled to face Devonte Smith on August 17, 2019, at UFC 241. However, it was reported on 30 July 2019 that Makdessi was forced to withdraw for undisclosed reason.
Makdessi faced Francisco Trinaldo on March 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Makdessi faced Ignacio Bahamondes on April 10, 2021, at UFC on ABC 2. At the weigh-ins, Ignacio Bahamondes weighed in at 156.75 pounds, 0.75 pound over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Bahamondes was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to Makdessi. Makdessi won the bout via split decision.
Makdessi faced Nasrat Haqparast on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Makdessi faced Jamie Mullarkey on September 10, 2023, at UFC 293. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
In October 2023, Makdessi was released by UFC.

#### Global Fight League

On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Makdessi was signed by Global Fight League.

## Boxing

Makdessi is scheduled to face Diego Sanchez in a boxing bout on April 12, 2025 at ICS Mania 1.

## Championships and accomplishments
### Mixed martial arts

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Ross Pearson

## Fear the Fighter sponsorship controversy

Makdessi is listed as the president of the MMA apparel brand Fear the Fighter, which has sponsored several MMA and UFC fighters. Since 2014, a number of fighters have come forward with complaints, alleging that Fear the Fighter had failed to pay their respective sponsorship fees. Akira Corassani, Tim Elliott, John Dodson, Georgi Karakhanyan, and Gegard Mousasi have publicly made such allegations. In April 2015, Mousasi's management team stated that they had filed a lawsuit against Makdessi and Fear the Fighter due to their alleged failure to pay the outstanding debt owed to Mousasi.

## Championships and accomplishments

* Ultimate Fighting Championship
** UFC.com Awards
*** 2011: Ranked #3 Knockout of the Year vs. Kyle Watson

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 27 matches | 18 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 2 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 9 | 6 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 18–9 | Jamie Mullarkey | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 293 | September 10, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Loss | 18–8 | Nasrat Haqparast | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa | September 3, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 18–7 | Ignacio Bahamondes | Decision (split) | UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland | April 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (156.75 lb) bout; Bahamondes missed weight. |
| Loss | 17–7 | Francisco Trinaldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira | March 14, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Brasília, Brazil | |
| Win | 17–6 | Jesus Pinedo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis | March 23, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 16–6 | Ross Pearson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 | July 28, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 15–6 | Abel Trujillo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. dos Anjos | December 16, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Loss | 14–6 | Lando Vannata | KO (wheel kick) | UFC 206 | December 10, 2016 | 1 | 1:40 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 14–5 | Mehdi Baghdad | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez | July 7, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–5 | Yancy Medeiros | Decision (split) | UFC 194 | December 12, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–4 | Donald Cerrone | TKO (head kick) | UFC 187 | May 23, 2015 | 2 | 4:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Shane Campbell | TKO (punches) | UFC 186 | April 25, 2015 | 1 | 4:53 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Catchweight (160 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 12–3 | Alan Patrick | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 169 | February 1, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | Renée Forte | KO (punches) | UFC 165 | September 21, 2013 | 1 | 2:01 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 11–2 | Daron Cruickshank | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 158 | March 16, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 10–2 | Sam Stout | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 154 | November 17, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Anthony Njokuani | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 145 | April 21, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Catchweight (158 lb) bout; Makdessi missed weight. |
| Loss | 9–1 | Dennis Hallman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 140 | December 10, 2011 | 1 | 2:58 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | Catchweight (158.5 lb) bout; Hallman missed weight. |
| Win | 9–0 | Kyle Watson | KO (spinning back fist) | UFC 129 | April 30, 2011 | 3 | 1:27 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 8–0 | Pat Audinwood | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 124 | December 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 7–0 | Bendy Casimir | Decision (unanimous) | Mixed Fight League 3 | September 25, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Catchweight (159 lb) bout; Makdessi missed weight. |
| Win | 6–0 | Lindsey Hawkes | TKO (punches) | Canadian Fighting Championship 4 | February 26, 2010 | 2 | 4:59 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Win | 5–0 | Brandon McArthur | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Ringside MMA: Rivalry | November 14, 2009 | 1 | 5:00 | Drummondville, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 4–0 | Iraj Hadin | TKO (punches) | Ringside MMA: Rage Fighting | August 22, 2009 | 2 | 4:48 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 3–0 | Amir Uddin | TKO (punches) | XMMA 7: Inferno | February 27, 2009 | 2 | 3:06 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 2–0 | Dan Dechaine | TKO (punches) | XMMA 6: House of Pain | November 8, 2008 | 1 | 1:48 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 1–0 | Todd Westcott | TKO (punches) | XMMA 5: It's Crow Time | September 13, 2008 | 1 | 3:06 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |