The UFC roster is bigger than ever – and it continues to expand.
Fresh faces appear on nearly every card, whether onboarded as short-notice opening fillers, Dana White’s Contender Series signees, or the increasingly rare straight-up additions. Sometimes, it’s hard to keep track of the hustle and bustle of the mixed martial arts news beat, but here at MMA Junkie, we’ve got you covered.
“Fresh Ink” is your list of fighters added to the UFC roster the previous month and provides background on who they are and where they came from.
Nurullo Aliev
Record when signed: 7-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 22
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Nurullo Aliev hasn’t fought in the UFC yet, but he’s already shaping up to be a star. With Tajikistan behind him, Aliev has drawn a tremendous amount of interest from his region of the world – as Dana White alluded to (and our numbers back, too). Undefeated through eight fights, the “Tajik Eagle” looked a lot like a different “Eagle” MMA fans adored themselves to when he ran through Josh Wick on DWCS.
Ikram Aliskerov
Record when signed: 13-1
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Middleweight
Age: 29
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Ikram Aliskerov wowed UFC president Dana White and the matchmakers on Dana White’s Contender Series when he quickly submitted opponent Mario Sousa in Round 1. With the win, Aliskerov extends his winning streak to five. His only career loss came against Khamzat Chimaev in 2019 – and he hopes a rematch will come down the line.
Jaqueline Amorim
Record when signed: 6-0
Signing type: Straight-up
Weight class: Women’s strawweight
Age: 27
Debut: TBA
The skinny: One of the most highly-touted prospects in MMA, Jaqueline Amorim impressed once again when she made quick work in her first LFA title defense Sept. 16. A first-round armbar finish of Ashley Nichols kept her 100 percent finishing rate alive and earned her a UFC contract. Amorim trains at American Top Team and is a former IBJJF champion.
Farid Basharat
Record when signed: 9-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Bantamweight
Age: 25
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Farid Basharat enters the UFC and joins his brother Javid in the world’s most prominent MMA organization. While he entered his DWCS opportunity with six finishes, Basharat needed all 15 minutes to defeat Allan Begosso. However, he displayed enough tools to impress the UFC brass despite the lack of a finish.
Gabriel Bonfim
Record when signed: 13-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 25
Debut: Jan. 21 vs. Mounir Lazzez at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The skinny: There is only one Von Flue choke in Dana White’s Contender Series and it belongs to Gabriel Bonfim. Competing on the same card as his brother Ismael, Bonfim impressed when he took down and submitted previously-undefeated fighter Trey Waters in Round 1. He did something that’s never been done – an easy recipe to earn a UFC deal, as he did on DWCS
Ismael Bonfim
Record when signed: 18-3
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 26
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Ismael Bonfim, like his brother Gabriel, earned a UFC contract on Sept. 6. In his DWCS appearance, Bonfim defeated 31-fight veteran Nariman Abbasov via unanimous decision. A former LFA headliner, Bonfim hasn’t lost since a 2014 defeat to Renato Moicano.
Bruna Brasil
Record when signed: 8-2-1
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Women’s strawweight
Age: 29
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Usually any finish is enough to earn you a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series, but Bruna Brasil went above and beyond. A scintillating head kick knockout of Marnic Mann instantly added violence to Brasil’s reel – and gained her a UFC deal.
Rafael Estevam
Record when signed: 11-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Flyweight
Age: 26
Debut: TBA
The skinny: One of the newest members of the UFC roster, Rafael Estevam earned a promotional contract in the final episode of Dana White’s Contender Series, Season 6 when he defeated Joao Elias with a second-round TKO stoppage.
Brunno Ferreira
Record when signed: 9-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Middleweight
Age: 29
Debut: TBA
The skinny: The nickname “The Hulk” is an apt one for Brunno Ferreira. At 5’10”, he’s a bit of an undersized middleweight. However, his punches compensate, as he showed in his UFC contract-earning performance, a 95-second knockout of Leon Aliu.
Jafel Filho
Record when signed: 14-2
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Flyweight
Age: 29
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Put on an exciting fight and Dana White will like you – as he does Jafel Filho. In a back-and-forth brawl, Filho finished Robert Echeverria with strikes to top off a thrilling performance in front of the UFC brass. The win extended his streak to five.
Jack Jenkins
Record when signed: 10-2
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Featherweight
Age: 28
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Australian MMA continues to grow and you can add Jack Jenkins to the list of potential budding stars. His win over Freddy Emiliano Linares showed fight fans a lot, especially when he sealed the deal with a TKO in the final 30 seconds to notch a UFC deal.
Austen Lane
Record when signed: 12-3
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Heavyweight
Age: 34
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Former NFL player Austen Lane had a bumpy start to his MMA career but never gave up. After a failed try against Greg Hardy on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018, Lane went 7-2 in his next nine fights before a second shot to fight in front of Dana White. On DWCS, Season 6, Lane knocked out Richard Jacobi in Round 1 to earn a long-sought-after UFC deal.
Daniel Marcos
Record when signed: 13-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Bantamweight
Age: 29
Debut: TBA
The skinny: It’s hard enough to come off a three-year layoff to compete again in MMA competition. It’s even more challenging when your return fight comes in front of the world – and the UFC brass. Despite the odds stacked against him, Peru’s Daniel Marcos persevered en route to a technically sound unanimous decision win over Brandon Lewis, which earned him a UFC deal.
Mateus Mendonca
Record when signed: 10-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Bantamweight
Age: 23
Debut: TBA
The skinny: As if his blue hair wasn’t enough of a statement, Mateus Mendonca knockout of Ashiek Ajim on DWCS etched him in the brain of UFC fans everywhere. Three punches stole all of the consciousness from Ashiek, who remained down on the canvas for over two minutes. It also earned Mendonca a slot on the UFC roster, alongside his mentor Charles Oliveira.
Bo Nickal
Record when signed: 3-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Middleweight
Age: 26
Debut: Dec. 10 vs. Jamie Pickett (13-8 MMA, 2-4 UFC) at UFC 282 in Las Vegas
The skinny: There are super-prospects and then there’s Bo Nickal. Perhaps the most highly-touted prospect in MMA history, Nickal ripped through both of his DWCS opponents in a combined 114 seconds. Through three pro fights, Nickal has yet to be touched. Many are curious to see how long that can last as he ascends the ranks of the UFC.
Yamato Nishikawa
Record when signed: 21-3-6
Signing type: Short-notice
Weight class: Welterweight
Age: 19
Debut: Oct. 22 vs. Magomed Mustafaev (14-4) at UFC 280 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
The skinny: Somehow, someway Yamato Nishikawa is 19 – yet he has 30 professional MMA fights to his name. A pro fighter since age 14, Nishikawa has accumulated 18 stoppages in 21 wins. He rides into his short-notice UFC debut on a 14-fight winning streak on the Asian regional scenes.
Sam Patterson
Record when signed: 10-1-1
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 26
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Sam Patterson made some pretty legitimate stops including six wins in Brave CF en route to his DWCS opportunity. After a tough first round, Patterson persevered a striking barrage from Vinicius Cenci to rally, pick up a submission in Round 2, and earn a UFC deal.
Trevor Peek
Record when signed: 10-1-1
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Lightweight
Age: 26
Debut: TBA
The skinny: In one of the craziest rallies in DWCS history, Trevor Peek absorbed a tremendous amount of damage, broke his hand, knocked out opponent Malik Lewis, and earned a UFC contract. What a memorable night. Peek has ended all seven of his wins with strikes.
Vitor Petrino
Record when signed: 7-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Age: 25
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Vitor Petrino throws heat and racks up knockouts, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that’s exactly what he did when the light shined brightest. On DWCS, Brazil’s Petrino knocked out old pal Rodolfo Bellato for the second time, and earned a UFC deal in doing so.
Raul Rosas Jr.
Record when signed: 6-0
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Bantamweight
Age: 17
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Raul Rosas Jr. hasn’t even fought in the UFC, yet he’s already accomplished something no one else has. For the first time in promotion history, the UFC signed a minor to its roster. Much todo was made about Rosas’ DWCS appearance, but when he largely dominated 25-year-old Mando Gutierrez, it was clear there was only one correct next step. Now, he sets his sights on becoming the youngest champion in company history.
Don Shainis
Record when signed: 12-3
Signing type: Short-notice
Weight class: Featherweight
Age: 31
Debut: Saturday vs. Sodiq Yusuff (12-2) at UFC Fight Night 211 in Las Vegas
The skinny: For many fighters, it’s not an ideal situation to step in on short notice for your UFC debut against a ranked fighter. Whether that’s true or not, Don Shainis has an opportunity to capitalize on a massive opportunity. Originally from Massachusetts, Shainis trains out of Glory MMA & Fitness and holds both the Cage Titans and FAC titles.
Anton Turkalj
Record when signed: 8-0
Signing type: Short notice
Weight class: Light heavyweight
Age: 26
Debut: Loss vs. Jailton Almeida (17-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) at UFC 279
Dana White often says fighters who win on DWCS but don’t receive contracts should stay ready for potential short-notice opportunities. This was precisely the case with Anton Turkalj, who won July 26 on DWCS against Acacio dos Santos. While he didn’t get a contract, he signed on for a short-notice 220-pound contract weight bout against Jailton Almeida at UFC 279. He lost via first-round submission.
Karl Williams
Record when signed: 7-1
Signing type: DWCS
Weight class: Heavyweight
Age: 32
Debut: TBA
The skinny: Karl Williams flipped the script during his UFC contract-earning performance. Brought in on short notice, secretly injured and without proper training, Williams outwrestled former Penn State University wrestler Jimmy Lawson and dominated en route to a unanimous decision. With his UFC signing, Williams becomes the first Virgin Islands-born fighter in company history.
