Kyle Daukaus

Nickal ducked a left hand and slammed Daukaus to the canvas, opening cuts with elbows from inside the guard before the referee stood them up late in the round. Back on the feet, Nickal landed a hard right-left that floored Daukaus, then swarmed with punches and elbows on the ground to force the stoppage at 4:34 of Round 1.

Key moments

• Nickal slipped a Daukaus left and immediately took him down, controlling from inside closed guard.
• Bloodied Daukaus with elbows on the ground before the referee restood them late in the round.
• On the restart, a right-left combination dropped Daukaus cold.
• A ground-and-pound flurry of punches and elbows ended it at 4:34 of Round 1.

Daukaus needed less than a minute against one of the division's most prolific submission artists. He dropped Meerschaert with strikes early, then jumped on the opening and locked up a D'Arce choke for the tap at 0:50 — his second straight sub-minute finish on his UFC return.

Key moments

• Dropped Gerald Meerschaert with strikes inside the opening exchanges.
• Recognised the opening and switched from ground strikes to the D'Arce choke.
• Forced the tap at 0:50 of round one — a 50-second finish at Madison Square Garden.
• Beat a renowned submission specialist by submission, extending his win streak to six.

In his first UFC appearance since 2022, Daukaus shocked the unpredictable Pereira in Shanghai. He closed the distance and landed a short, brutal sequence of punches and elbows that ended the fight in 43 seconds — an emphatic statement to mark his return to the roster.

Key moments

• First UFC bout since 2022 after rebuilding on the regional scene.
• Closed distance immediately and unloaded punches and elbows.
• Stopped Michel Pereira at 0:43 of round one.
• The fastest finish of his career, kick-starting his second UFC run.

A second CFFC middleweight title defence, and Daukaus's most direct: he overwhelmed Patershuk early and got the knockout inside 90 seconds of the first round, keeping his regional reign intact while angling for a UFC return.

Key moments

• Defended the CFFC middleweight title for a second time.
• Pressed forward and finished with punches at 1:24 of round one.
• A rare KO win for a fighter whose game is built on submissions.
• Came exactly two years to the day before his White House booking.

Daukaus made the first defence of his reclaimed CFFC title, grinding the fight to the mat and finding his signature choke late. He locked up a D'Arce in the third round for the finish, true to the nickname.

Key moments

• First defence of the CFFC middleweight title he had just won back.
• Worked the fight to the ground and hunted the choke.
• Finished with a D'Arce choke at 3:45 of round three.
• Kept the regional momentum building toward a UFC recall.

Daukaus became a two-time CFFC middleweight champion, going the full five rounds with Gregg Ellis and taking a unanimous decision. A rare decision win on a record otherwise stacked with finishes, and the result that relaunched his climb back to the UFC.

Key moments

• Won the vacant CFFC middleweight title to become a two-time champion.
• Went the full championship five rounds — unusual for a fighter who normally finishes.
• Took the unanimous decision on all three cards.
• Called for a return to the world stage afterward.

First fight back on the regional circuit after being cut by the UFC, Daukaus left no doubts about his level. He hunted the back through the opening round and locked in a rear-naked choke with barely a second left on the clock, forcing the tap at 4:59 to keep his comeback on track at Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City.

Key moments

• First bout after being released from the UFC roster in early 2023.
• Controlled the fight and worked for a finish throughout round one.
• Secured the rear-naked choke with one second remaining in the round.
• Win at the regional level set the stage for his CFFC title run.

A middleweight contest at UFC Orlando that ended badly for Daukaus. Anders, a physical striker with power, caught him in the second round and finished with ground-and-pound from half guard at 2:45, handing Daukaus a TKO loss that contributed to his UFC release shortly after.

Key moments

• Daukaus entered on the heels of his loss to Roman Dolidze six months earlier.
• Anders landed hard punches on the feet and seized the finish when Daukaus was hurt.
• Ground-and-pound from half guard ended the fight at 2:45 of round two.
• Second straight loss confirmed the end of Daukaus's first UFC run.

A brutal early finish at UFC Austin. Dolidze hurt Daukaus with a counter left hand in the clinch, drove him to the cage and launched a big knee that caught him on the eye. Daukaus crumpled, Dolidze followed with punches, and the referee stepped in at 1:13 of round one. The performance earned Dolidze the Performance of the Night bonus.

Key moments

• Dolidze landed a counter left hand inside the clinch to wobble Daukaus.
• A flying knee caught Daukaus flush near the eye as he was driven to the cage.
• Daukaus fell immediately and Dolidze finished with follow-up punches.
• Stoppage came at 1:13 of round one; Dolidze earned Performance of the Night.

Daukaus snatched a D'Arce choke at the very last second of the opening round — literally with one second left on the clock — to secure a dramatic submission win over Jamie Pickett in Las Vegas. The finish earned him his first Performance of the Night bonus in the UFC.

Key moments

• Pickett replaced original opponent Julian Marquez on short notice.
• Daukaus locked in the D'Arce choke at 4:59 of round one — one second from the bell.
• Earned his first UFC Performance of the Night bonus for the buzzer-beater finish.
• The win snapped a two-fight losing skid and showcased his signature choke under pressure.

One of the most controversial moments of Daukaus's career. The two middleweights clashed heads in the first round, badly rocking Holland. Daukaus capitalised immediately, taking Holland's back and securing a rear-naked choke for the tap. Referee Dan Miragliotta reviewed the replay and ruled the headbutt caused the sequence, overturning the submission win to a no contest — a decision Daukaus publicly disputed.

Key moments

• The fighters collided heads at UFC Fight Night 193 in Las Vegas, leaving Holland badly rocked.
• Daukaus quickly seized on the position and locked in a standing rear-naked choke for the tap.
• Referee Dan Miragliotta reviewed instant replay and overturned the win to a no contest.
• Daukaus said afterward: 'I'm getting screwed' — Holland himself admitted he was knocked out and choked out in the same sequence.

Daukaus met Phil Hawes in a middleweight scrap at the UFC Apex and came out on the wrong end of all three scorecards. Hawes secured a takedown in the first, stayed active on the feet in the second, and controlled from top in a physical third round, winning 30-26, 30-26 and 29-27.

Key moments

• Hawes landed a takedown in round one and controlled from top position.
• Daukaus struggled to close the distance and get his grappling game into the fight.
• All three judges scored the bout clearly for Hawes: 30-26, 30-26, 29-27.
• Second UFC fight after his debut loss to Brendan Allen, and a second setback.

Daukaus controlled Octagon newcomer Dustin Stoltzfus across three rounds at UFC 255, using his size and grappling to dominate the smaller fighter against the cage. He threatened with D'Arce choke attempts throughout but couldn't finish, taking a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26) to record his first UFC win.

Key moments

• Daukaus's first Octagon victory after a losing debut against Brendan Allen.
• Used his reach and size advantage to control Stoltzfus against the fence for much of the fight.
• Threatened with D'Arce choke attempts in multiple rounds without completing the finish.
• Took the unanimous nod on all three scorecards to break his UFC losing streak.

Daukaus stepped in on short notice to replace Ian Heinisch for his UFC debut and ran into a buzzsaw. Allen dropped him with a knee early, then kept him grounded and opened cuts with ground-and-pound. Daukaus showed heart — nearly landing a choke in the third and busting Allen's eye — but Allen's consistent pressure was enough for a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-27, 30-27).

Key moments

• Stepped in as a late injury replacement for Ian Heinisch, making his UFC debut at 9-0.
• Allen dropped him with a knee approximately one minute into the fight.
• Daukaus fought back in round three, nearly locking up a choke and cutting Allen around the eye.
• Lost the unanimous decision — a competitive debut against a physically superior opponent on no notice.

A CFFC middleweight title defence at Parx Casino, with Daukaus submitting the more experienced Norwood (12-5) via D'Arce choke in round two. Daukaus entered the fight publicly motivated by being passed over for a UFC contract on the Contender Series, and made a statement to retain his belt.

Key moments

• First title defence of his CFFC middleweight championship.
• Faced the more experienced Norwood, who had 17 professional fights to Daukaus's 8.
• Finished with a D'Arce choke in round two, consistent with his submission-first style.
• Fight streamed live on UFC Fight Pass from Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

A CFFC middleweight title defence against Stephen Regman (9-4), wrapped up in barely a minute of the second round. Daukaus was the undefeated champion and underlined his status with a signature D'Arce choke stoppage, maintaining his unbeaten record at 7-0.

Key moments

• Defended the CFFC middleweight title against a nine-fight veteran in Regman.
• Finished emphatically early in round two via his signature D'Arce choke.
• Remained undefeated at 7-0 heading into the Contender Series the following year.
• Another quick finish on a card held at Parx Casino, his home promotion's regular venue.

Daukaus went three rounds and won convincingly on the Contender Series, threatening with submission attempts — including a near-choke at the end of round one — in a 30-25, 30-26, 29-27 shutout of Lombardo (8-2). Despite the dominant performance he was not awarded a UFC contract on the night, a snub that he later cited publicly as motivation.

Key moments

• Entered undefeated at 6-0 and won a dominant three-round decision over Lombardo.
• Nearly finished with a choke attempt near the end of round one.
• Judges scored it 30-25, 30-26, 29-27 — a clear-cut outcome.
• Dana White did not award Daukaus a contract; the decision fuelled his CFFC title run.

Daukaus claimed the vacant CFFC middleweight title at the Etess Arena in Atlantic City, submitting Jonavin Webb — a former UFC fighter and ex-CFFC welterweight champion — via D'Arce choke at the very end of round three. Webb stepped in on short notice after original opponent Mike Wilcox was removed following an arrest.

Key moments

• Won the vacant CFFC middleweight championship in just his fifth professional fight.
• Opponent Jonavin Webb was a former UFC fighter who moved up from welterweight on short notice.
• Finished with a D'Arce choke at the 5:00 mark of round three — right on the buzzer.
• The title win established him as the dominant regional middleweight in the Philadelphia–Atlantic City corridor.

A quick finish at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City. Daukaus submitted Dustin Long via rear-naked choke inside three minutes of the first round, extending his unbeaten record to 4-0 on the regional circuit.

Key moments

• Fought at Ring of Combat 66 at the Tropicana Resort and Casino in Atlantic City.
• Secured a rear-naked choke finish at 2:51 of round one.
• Fourth professional win, all by submission — the pattern of his career already clear.
• Part of a stretch of regional fights that set up his CFFC title shot.

Daukaus's third professional fight, and another submission win. He finished Elijah Gbollie — described as one of the higher-ranked fighters in the Virginia region — via rear-naked choke in round two at Art of War Cage Fighting 5, keeping his record unblemished at 3-0.

Key moments

• Third professional fight, maintaining his unbeaten start to his career.
• Faced Gbollie, a regionally ranked fighter from Virginia with a 5-2 record.
• Finished with a rear-naked choke at 4:30 of the second round.
• Continued the all-submission finishing run that opened his professional career.

Second fight under the CFFC banner and another D'Arce choke finish, this time against Tyler Bayer at CFFC 69 in December 2017. Daukaus finished in round two and moved to 2-0, fighting on the same card as his brother Chris Daukaus.

Key moments

• Second professional fight, fought under CFFC — the promotion that would later crown him champion.
• Finished with his signature D'Arce choke at 2:32 of round two.
• Appeared on the same card as his brother Chris Daukaus, a frequent occurrence at CFFC events.
• Moved to 2-0, with both wins coming by submission.

Second professional fight, fought at King of the Cage: Regulator at SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia. Daukaus ended it quickly with a D'Arce choke inside two minutes of the first round — the submission that would become his calling card — and moved to 2-0.

Key moments

• Fought at SugarHouse Casino in Philadelphia, close to his hometown base.
• Finished Kyle Walker via D'Arce choke at 1:41 of round one.
• The D'Arce choke already central to his game in just his second professional bout.
• Moved to 2-0, both wins by submission, establishing the blueprint for his career.

Daukaus made his professional debut at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia with a first-round rear-naked choke submission of Dino Juklo at 2:35. He entered with an amateur background and a 6-0 amateur record, and wasted no time stamping his grappling identity on his professional career.

Key moments

• Professional MMA debut at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia — his home city.
• Submitted Dino Juklo via rear-naked choke at 2:35 of round one.
• Juklo entered at 0-2 professionally; Daukaus came in with a 6-0 amateur record.
• The first step of an unbeaten regional run that took him to the Contender Series two years later.