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Daniel Weichel
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Daniel Weichel (born November 22, 1984) is a German professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Oktagon MMA. He previously competed in Bellator MMA, M-1 Global and Shooto.
Key Information
Background
[edit]Born and raised in Germany, Weichel originally began training in Jujutsu at the age of 14, before transitioning into Brazilian jiu-jitsu a year later. Weichel also began training in Muay Thai and then wrestling when he was 17, with both freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as boxing.[2][3] In 2014 Daniel received his blackbelt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu by Din Thomas.
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Early career
[edit]Weichel made his professional MMA debut in May 2002. Over the next four and a half years of his career, he amassed a record of 15–2.
During this time, Weichel competed on a German mixed martial arts reality show titled M.A.X. (Martial Arts Xtreme) in 2006, where he made it to the final against Ivan Mussardo. However, the production shut down before the match could actually take place. The two did eventually meet in 2009, where Weichel won by unanimous decision.[4]
M-1 Global
[edit]Following a rough patch where he went 3-4 (including two losses to future UFC fighters Paul Daley and Dan Hardy), Weichel joined the Russian MMA organization M-1 Global, going 5–0 on their M-1 Challengers series.
Weichel eventually challenged for the M-1 Global Lightweight Championship as he faced Jose Figueroa in November 2011 at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson. He won the bout and title via knockout in the first round.
Weichel's reign as champion would be short lived though. He lost the belt in his first defense in June 2012 against Musa Khamanaev at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo. He lost the bout via submission in the first round.
Bellator MMA
[edit]In September 2013, it was announced that Weichel had signed a contract with Bellator MMA and would compete in their Season Ten Featherweight Tournament.[5]
Weichel made his Bellator debut in the Season Ten Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal facing Scott Cleve at Bellator 110 on February 28, 2014 he won via submission with a rear-naked choke.[6]
Weichel fought against Matt Bessette at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014 in the Featherweight tournament semifinals.[7] He won the bout via unanimous decision.
Weichel faced Desmond Green in the Tournament Final at Bellator 119 on May 9, 2014.[8] He won the fight via submission in the second round. He also became the final tournament winner as Bellator moves away from tournament era.
Weichel faced Pat Curran on February 13, 2015 at Bellator 133.[9] He won the fight via split decision.
Replacing an injured Georgi Karakhanyan, Weichel faced Bellator Featherweight Champion Patrício Freire at Bellator 138 on June 19, 2015.[10] Despite dropping Freire with a series of strikes the waning seconds of the first round, Weichel lost the fight via knockout when Freire rallied with a counter left hook early in the second round.
Weichel faced Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 147 on December 4, 2015.[11] He won by unanimous decision.[12]
Weichel next faced up-and-comer Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 159 on July 22, 2016. He won via split decision.[13]
Weichel faced Brian Moore at Bellator 169 on December 16, 2016. He won the fight via submission in the first round.[14]
Weichel faced John Teixeira at Bellator 177 on April 14, 2017. He won via split decision.[15]
After four consecutive victories, Weichel was expected to face newly crowned featherweight champion, Patrício Freire, in a second fight at Bellator 188 on November 16, 2017.[16] However, Freire pulled out of the fight due to multiple injuries.[17] Weichel eventually faced Patricio Freire in a rematch in the main event at Bellator 203 on July 14, 2018.[18] He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.[19]
After the title fight, Weichel faced Goiti Yamauchi at Bellator 210 on November 30, 2018. He lost the close fight via split decision.
As the opening round fight of the Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix First Round, Weichel faced Saul Rogers at Bellator 228 on September 28, 2019. Weichel won the fight via unanimous decision as he rocked Rogers late in the opening round.
In the quarterfinals, Weichel was initially expected to face Emmanuel Sanchez in a rematch in February 2020.[20] However, the date got pushed back and they were next expected to face at Bellator 241 on March 13, 2020.[21] However, the whole event was eventually cancelled due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. The bout was rescheduled and took place at Bellator 252 on November 12.[22] Weichel lost the bout via unanimous decision.
Weichel faced Keoni Diggs on June 25, 2021 at Bellator 261.[23] He won the close bout via split decision.[24]
Weichel faced Pedro Carvalho at Bellator 270 on November 5, 2021.[25] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[26]
Weichel faced Rob Whiteford on May 13, 2022 at Bellator 281.[27] He won the bout via TKO stoppage in the first round.[28][29]
Weichel was set to face Akhmed Magomedov at Bellator 288 on November 18, 2022.[30] However, Magomedov pulled out due to unknown reason and was replaced by Timur Khizriev.[31] Weichel lost the bout via unanimous decision.[32]
Weichel faced Mads Burnell on September 23, 2023 at Bellator 299.[33] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[34] After the bout, Weichel retired from mixed martial arts competition.[35]
Oktagon MMA
[edit]Returning from retirement, Weichel faced Aboubakar Tounkara in the main event on September 20, 2025, at Oktagon 76.[36][37] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[38]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]- Bellator MMA
- M-1 Global
- M-1 Global Lightweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 58 matches | 43 wins | 15 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 5 |
| By submission | 22 | 3 |
| By decision | 15 | 7 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 43–15 | Aboubakar Tounkara | Decision (unanimous) | Oktagon 76 | September 20, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Frankfurt, Germany | Return to Lightweight. |
| Loss | 42–15 | Mads Burnell | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 299 | September 23, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Loss | 42–14 | Timur Khizriev | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 288 | November 18, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 42–13 | Rob Whiteford | TKO (punches) | Bellator 281 | May 13, 2022 | 1 | 1:12 | London, England | |
| Loss | 41–13 | Pedro Carvalho | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 270 | November 5, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Win | 41–12 | Keoni Diggs | Decision (split) | Bellator 261 | June 25, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 40–12 | Emmanuel Sanchez | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 252 | November 12, 2020 | 5 | 5:00 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 40–11 | Saul Rogers | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 228 | September 28, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | Bellator Featherweight World Grand Prix Opening Round. |
| Loss | 39–11 | Goiti Yamauchi | Decision (split) | Bellator 210 | November 30, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States | Lightweight bout. |
| Loss | 39–10 | Patrício Pitbull | Decision (split) | Bellator 203 | July 14, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Rome, Italy | For the Bellator Featherweight World Championship. |
| Win | 39–9 | John Macapá | Decision (split) | Bellator 177 | April 14, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Budapest, Hungary | |
| Win | 38–9 | Brian Moore | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Bellator 169 | December 16, 2016 | 1 | 4:44 | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Win | 37–9 | Emmanuel Sanchez | Decision (split) | Bellator 159 | July 22, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Mulvane, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 36–9 | Georgi Karakhanyan | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 147 | December 4, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | |
| Loss | 35–9 | Patrício Pitbull | KO (punch) | Bellator 138 | June 19, 2015 | 2 | 0:32 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | For the Bellator Featherweight World Championship. |
| Win | 35–8 | Pat Curran | Decision (split) | Bellator 133 | February 13, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Win | 34–8 | Desmond Green | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 119 | May 9, 2014 | 2 | 2:07 | Rama, Ontario, Canada | Won the Bellator Season Ten Featherweight Tournament |
| Win | 33–8 | Matt Bessette | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 114 | March 28, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | West Valley City, Utah, United States | Bellator Season Ten Featherweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 32–8 | Scott Cleve | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 110 | February 28, 2014 | 1 | 3:46 | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | Return to Featherweight. Bellator Season Ten Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal. |
| Win | 31–8 | Artiom Damkovsky | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | M-1 Challenge 37 | February 27, 2013 | 2 | 4:24 | Orenburg, Russia | |
| Win | 30–8 | Georgi Stoyanov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | M-1 Challenge 36 | December 8, 2012 | 2 | 2:24 | Mytishchi, Russia | |
| Win | 29–8 | Semen Tyrlya | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Respect FC 8 | September 22, 2012 | 1 | 3:40 | Wuppertal, Germany | |
| Loss | 28–8 | Musa Khamanaev | Submission (heel hook) | M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo | June 21, 2012 | 1 | 1:48 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Lost the M-1 Global Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 28–7 | Jose Figueroa | KO (punches) | M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson | November 20, 2011 | 1 | 1:50 | Moscow, Russia, | Won the M-1 Global Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 27–7 | Beau Baker | Decision (unanimous) | M-1 Challenge 26 | July 8, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Costa Mesa, California, United States | |
| Win | 26–7 | Magomedrasul Khasbulaev | Technical Submission (triangle choke) | M-1 Challenge 23 | March 5, 2011 | 1 | 3:26 | Moscow, Russia | |
| Win | 25–7 | Yuri Ivlev | TKO (doctor stoppage) | M-1 Challenge 21 | October 28, 2010 | 3 | 2:24 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 24–7 | Avtandil Shoshiashvili | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fight Night Merseburg 3 | August 29, 2010 | 1 | 4:20 | Spergau, Germany | |
| Loss | 23–7 | Rob Sinclair | TKO (punches) | BAMMA 3 | May 15, 2010 | 1 | 4:03 | Birmingham, England | |
| Win | 23–6 | Victor Kuku | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Tempel Fight School: Mix Fight Gala 9 | December 5, 2009 | 1 | 2:57 | Darmstadt, Germany | |
| Win | 22–6 | Ivan Musardo | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: Switzerland 6 | September 19, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Zürich, Switzerland | |
| Win | 21–6 | Danial Sharifi | Submission (guillotine choke) | M-1 Challenge 18 | August 15, 2009 | 1 | 2:53 | Hilversum, Netherlands | Return to Lightweight. |
| Win | 20–6 | Jimmy Sidoni | TKO (punches) | Tempel Fight School: Mix Fight Gala 8 | May 9, 2009 | 1 | 2:32 | Darmstadt, Germany | |
| Win | 19–6 | Fatih Dogan | Submission (brabo choke) | M-1 Challenge 13 | March 28, 2009 | 1 | 2:29 | Bourgas, Bulgaria | |
| Loss | 18–6 | Peter Irving | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strike and Submit 8 | October 26, 2008 | 2 | 1:47 | Gateshead, England | |
| Loss | 18–5 | Dan Hardy | TKO (elbows) | Ultimate Force: Punishment | May 3, 2008 | 2 | N/A | Doncaster, England | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 18–4 | Ian Jones | Submission (armbar) | Gorilla Fight 2 | April 5, 2008 | 1 | 2:38 | Mannheim, Germany | |
| Loss | 17–4 | Jason Jones | TKO (punch and knee) | M-1 Challenge 1 | March 2, 2008 | 1 | 0:06 | Almere, Netherlands | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 17–3 | Chas Jacquier | Submission (choke) | Tempel Fight School: Mix Fight Gala 6 | November 25, 2007 | 1 | N/A | Darmstadt, Germany | |
| Win | 16–3 | Fatih Balci | Submission (triangle choke) | Stapel Fighting Challenge 1 | April 29, 2007 | 1 | N/A | Stapel, Germany | |
| Loss | 15–3 | Paul Daley | KO (knee) | FX3: Fight Night 4 | March 10, 2007 | 1 | 2:55 | Reading, England | |
| Win | 15–2 | Amir Lekaj | Submission (kimura) | Martial Arts Xtreme 8 | November 25, 2006 | 1 | N/A | Berlin, Germany | |
| Win | 14–2 | Marcelo Lopez | Decision (split) | Martial Arts Xtreme 6 | November 11, 2006 | 3 | 3:00 | Berlin, Germany | |
| Win | 13–2 | Hugo Blatter | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Martial Arts Xtreme 4 | October 28, 2006 | 1 | 2:47 | Berlin, Germany | |
| Win | 12–2 | Josenildo Ramalho | Decision (majority) | Cage Warriors 23 | May 27, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | Coventry, England | |
| Win | 11–2 | Dennis Siver | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Tempel Fight School: Mix Fight Gala 3 | May 6, 2006 | 1 | N/A | Darmstadt, Germany | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Thiago Tavares | Submission (guillotine choke) | Cage Warriors 20 | March 5, 2006 | 3 | 4:47 | Liverpool, England | |
| Win | 10–1 | Johan Antonsson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | European Vale Tudo 5 | October 8, 2005 | 1 | 3:41 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Win | 9–1 | Boris Jonstomp | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 2:12 | ||||
| Win | 8–1 | Mike Lucero | Submission (guillotine choke) | KOTC: Grudge Match | June 17, 2005 | 1 | 3:41 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Featherweight bout. |
| Win | 7–1 | Joakim Engberg | Decision (unanimous) | European Vale Tudo 4 | September 17, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | Lightweight bout. |
| Win | 6–1 | Abdul Mohammed | Decision (unanimous) | Pride and Glory 3 | August 7, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Newcastle, England | |
| Win | 5–1 | Gaz Roriston | Submission (keylock) | European Vale Tudo 3 | May 22, 2004 | 2 | 1:57 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Welterweight debut. |
| Loss | 4–1 | Mattias Awad | Decision (unanimous) | European Vale Tudo 2 | April 4, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Stockholm, Sweden | |
| Win | 4–0 | Malte Janssen | KO (head kick) | Outsider Cup 2 | February 28, 2004 | 2 | 0:13 | Lübbecke, Germany | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 3–0 | Masaya Takita | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: 11/25 in Kitazawa Town Hall | November 25, 2003 | 2 | 5:00 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 2–0 | Eduardo Guimarães | KO (flying knee) | Shooto Holland: Holland vs. the World | April 12, 2003 | 1 | 2:50 | Culemborg, Netherlands | |
| Win | 1–0 | Vincent Latoel | Submission (armbar) | Shooto Holland: The Lords of the Ring | May 12, 2002 | 1 | 1:48 | Deventer, Netherlands | Featherweight debut. |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Dan Tom (March 12, 2020). "Bellator 241 breakdown: Will Emmanuel Sanchez have his revenge vs. Daniel Weichel?". MMAJunkie.com.
- ^ "Daniel Weichel". danielweichel.com.
- ^ "Daniel Weichel". danielweichel.com.
- ^ "Daniel Weichel - Biography". danielweichel.com. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
- ^ Whitman, Mike (September 11, 2013). "Bellator Inks Former M-1 Champion Daniel Weichel for 2014 Featherweight Tournament". sherdog.com. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
- ^ Knapp, Brian (February 28, 2014). "Quinton Jackson, 'King Mo' Lawal Advance to Tournament Final at Bellator 110". sherdog.com. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ "Bellator 114 lineup complete, adds featherweight tourney semifinals to main card". mmajunkie.com. March 5, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ "Cooper-Halsey, Weichel-Green Tournament Finals Top Bellator 119 Card in Ontario". sherdog.com. April 14, 2014. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
- ^ MMAjunkie Staff (December 15, 2014). "Bellator 133 adds Pat Curran vs. Daniel Weichel, Julia Budd vs. Talita Nogueira". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Staff (April 28, 2015). "Torn ACL sidelines Karakhanyan from Bellator 138, Daniel Weichel meets 'Pitbull' for title". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Tristen Critchfield (October 22, 2015). "Thomson-Villaseca, Karakhanyan-Weichel Set for Bellator 147 in San Jose". sherdog.com. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ Staff (December 4, 2015). "Bellator 147 results: Josh Thomson cruises to win, calls out Michael Chandler". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
- ^ John Morgan (July 22, 2016). "Bellator 159 results: Taimanglo scores upset, Guillard wins and moves to 170". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Brent Brookhouse (December 16, 2016). "Bellator 169 results: 'King Mo' Lawal dominates Satoshi Ishii for decision win". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Newswire (April 14, 2017). "Bellator 177 results: Eduardo Dantas takes split decision over Leandro Higo in Budapest". mmafighting.com.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (August 23, 2017). "Bellator 188 features title rematch between champ Patricio Freire, Daniel Weichel". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Fernanda Prates (November 12, 2017). "Injury forces champ Patricio Freire out of Bellator 188; Lahat vs. Labiano new headliner". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ "Patricio Pitbull vs. Daniel Weichel rematch headlines Bellator 203 in Rome". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on 2018-11-21. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
- ^ "Bellator 203 Results: Patricio Freire Retains Title in Split Nod • MMA News". MMA News. 2018-07-14. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
- ^ Damon Martin (September 29, 2019). "Bellator Featherweight Grand Prix quarterfinal fights determined, dates revealed". mmafighting.com.
- ^ Nolan King (January 9, 2020). "Patricio Freire vs. Pedro Carvalho, Emmanuel Sanchez vs. Daniel Weichel set for Bellator 241". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (October 15, 2020). "Bellator featherweight grand prix bouts set with Daniel Weichel vs. Emmanuel Sanchez, A.J. McKee vs. Darrion Caldwell". MMAFighting.com.
- ^ "Daniel Weichel vs. Keoni Diggs set for Bellator 261 on June 25". FanSided. 2021-05-18. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
- ^ Newswire, MMA Fighting (2021-06-25). "Bellator 261 Results: Johnson vs. Moldavsky". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
- ^ Heck, Mike (2021-09-02). "Daniel Weichel vs. Pedro Carvalho, Charlie Ward vs. Norbert Novenyi added to Bellator 270 main card in Dublin". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-11-05). "Bellator 270 Results: Pedro Carvalho Snaps Skid, Bests Daniel Weichel". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
- ^ Youngs, Jose (2022-01-25). "Denise Kielholtz vs. Kana Watanabe, Daniel Weichel vs. Robert Whiteford set for Bellator London". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Bellator 281 'MVP vs. Storley' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Bellator 281 Highlight Video: Daniel Weichel Quickly Dispatches of Robert Whiteford". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
- ^ "Bellator 288 fight card announced: 13 bouts official for Chicago". MMA Junkie. 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
- ^ King, Nolan (2022-11-01). "Undefeated Timur Khizriev, Sullivan Cauley, Jairo Pacheco among new additions to Bellator 288 in Chicago". MMA Junkie. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
- ^ Briggs, Brady (2022-11-19). "Timur Khizriev remains undefeated, out-classes Daniel Weichel at Bellator 288". Retrieved 2022-11-19.
- ^ "Bellator books Mads Burnell vs. Daniel Weichel on Dublin card". MMA Junkie. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Bellator 299 'Eblen vs. Edwards' Play-by-Play, Results & Round Scoring". Sherdog. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
- ^ Jr, Adam Guillen (2023-09-23). "Daniel Weichel retires following loss to Mads Burnell at Bellator Dublin". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
- ^ "Daniel Weichel Makes Triumphant Return in Frankfurt at OKTAGON 76". Fighters Only. 2025-09-01. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
- ^ "Najbližší turnaj OKTAGON 76 bohužiaľ na poslednú chvíľu prišiel o dvoch bojovníkov". sport.aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2025-09-16.
- ^ "Daniel Weichel Secures Unanimous Decision Win in MMA Return – Oktagon 76 Highlights". www.lowkickmma.com. 2025-09-20. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Daniel". Sherdog. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
External links
[edit]Daniel Weichel
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background
Early life
Daniel Weichel was born on November 22, 1984, in Michelstadt, a small town in the Odenwald region of Hesse, Germany.[4][1] He spent his early years in this rural area, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of Frankfurt, where the local environment fostered a grounded upbringing typical of small-town German life.[5] As an adult, Weichel established his residence and training base in Frankfurt am Main, the bustling financial hub of Germany, which became central to his personal and professional development.[4][3] During his youth in Germany, he began exploring martial arts as an outlet for discipline and physical activity.[5]Martial arts training
Daniel Weichel's martial arts journey began around age 14 with Jujutsu in Germany, laying the groundwork for his future in combat sports.[5][6] This early dedication, shaped by his German upbringing, fostered a disciplined approach that propelled him toward mixed martial arts. As a teenager, around age 17, Weichel expanded his skill set by incorporating Muay Thai, wrestling—including both freestyle and Greco-Roman styles—and boxing, which helped him develop a versatile foundation essential for MMA.[7] He later achieved a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under renowned coach Din Thomas in 2014, further solidifying his grappling expertise.[1] Weichel has long been affiliated with Team MMA Spirit in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, where he honed his abilities in a supportive training environment focused on comprehensive MMA development.[1] His overall fighting style emphasizes grappling prowess, with seamless integration of striking techniques, earning him recognition as a "grappling ace" known for dominant submission-oriented approaches.[8]Professional MMA career
Early career
Daniel Weichel transitioned from amateur martial arts successes, including his 2002 European Shooto amateur championship, to professional mixed martial arts in smaller European promotions. He made his pro debut on May 12, 2002, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, submitting Vincent Latoel via armbar in the first round at 1:48 during Shooto Holland: The Lords of the Ring. This victory showcased his grappling foundation from early Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, which aided his ground dominance in initial bouts.[1][3][5] From 2002 to 2006, Weichel amassed a 15–2 record across events like Shooto, Extreme Vale Tudo (EVT), and King of the Cage, primarily in the Netherlands, Germany, and the UK. Key wins highlighted his submission skills, such as a first-round rear-naked choke over Johan Antonsson and a second-round rear-naked choke against Boris Jonstomp at EVT 5: Phoenix in 2005, both underscoring his BJJ expertise. Other notable victories included a flying knee knockout of Eduardo Guimaraes in the first round at Shooto Holland: Holland vs. the World in April 2003, and a unanimous decision over Masaya Takita at Shooto: 11/25 in Kitazawa Town Hall in November 2003. His losses during this period were a unanimous decision to Mattias Awad at EVT 2: Hazard in April 2004 and a third-round guillotine choke submission to Thiago Tavares at Cage Warriors 20 in March 2006.[3] Weichel's early phase culminated in his participation on the 2006 German reality show M.A.X. (Martial Arts Xtreme), where he advanced to the final against Ivan Mussardo, though production issues delayed the bout. The matchup was rescheduled and held on September 19, 2009, at Shooto Switzerland 6 in Zürich, with Weichel securing a unanimous decision victory after 15 minutes including overtime, solidifying his status as the legitimate M.A.X. champion.[9][3][10]M-1 Global
Weichel entered M-1 Global in 2009, leveraging momentum from his regional successes in Europe to compete on an international stage.[11] He rapidly built a reputation in the lightweight division through the M-1 Challenge series, going undefeated at 5–0 with finishes that highlighted his grappling expertise, including guillotine chokes against Danial Sharifi, a brabo choke against Fatih Dogan, a doctor stoppage TKO over Yuri Ivlev, a technical triangle submission of Magomedrasul Khasbulaev, and a unanimous decision win against Beau Baker.[3] These victories positioned him as a top contender, emphasizing his ability to control opponents on the ground and transition seamlessly to submissions within the promotion's developmental structure.[3] In November 2011, Weichel captured the M-1 Global Lightweight Championship in a main event bout against Jose Figueroa at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson, securing the title via first-round knockout punches at 1:50.[12] His striking power, combined with persistent pressure, overwhelmed Figueroa early, marking a pivotal moment in his career as the first German to claim the promotion's lightweight crown.[1] Weichel's title reign lasted until June 2012, when he suffered his first defeat in the promotion during a defense against Musa Khamanaev at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo. Khamanaev submitted him with a heel hook at 1:48 of the first round, exploiting a grappling exchange to claim the belt.[13] Despite the quick loss, Weichel's performance underscored his willingness to engage in high-level ground battles, though it exposed vulnerabilities in leg lock defenses. Following the title loss, Weichel shifted to the featherweight division, adapting to the lower weight class for subsequent outings in late 2012 and early 2013. He rebounded with submission wins over Georgi Stoyanov via rear-naked choke in the second round at M-1 Challenge 36 and Artem Damkovsky via arm-triangle choke in the second round at M-1 Challenge 37, reinforcing his grappling dominance while concluding his M-1 tenure on a high note.[3] This move to 145 pounds reflected strategic considerations for long-term sustainability amid the promotion's competitive landscape.[3]Bellator MMA
Daniel Weichel joined Bellator MMA in early 2014, debuting with a first-round submission victory over Scott Cleve via rear-naked choke at Bellator 110 on February 28, 2014. This marked the beginning of his participation in the promotion's Season Ten Featherweight Tournament, where he advanced by defeating Matt Bessette via unanimous decision in the semifinals at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014. Weichel clinched the tournament title with a second-round rear-naked choke submission against Desmond Green at Bellator 119 on May 9, 2014, earning a shot at the featherweight championship.[14] The tournament success showcased Weichel's grappling prowess, honed from his prior experience in M-1 Global, which provided him an edge in submission-heavy bouts within Bellator's competitive featherweight division. He then earned a split decision win over former champion Pat Curran at Bellator 133 on February 13, 2015, before challenging champion Patrício Freire at Bellator 138 on June 19, 2015, where he suffered a second-round knockout loss. Weichel rebounded with a unanimous decision over Georgi Karakhanyan at Bellator 147 on December 4, 2015. These performances highlighted his adaptation to Bellator's high-level striking exchanges and endurance demands.[3][15] Weichel continued his momentum with a split decision victory against Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 159 on July 22, 2016, and a first-round arm-triangle submission of Brian Moore at Bellator 169 on December 16, 2016. A split decision win over John Teixeira at Bellator 177 on April 14, 2017, positioned him for a rematch with Freire for the featherweight title at Bellator 203 on July 14, 2018, resulting in a controversial split decision loss after five rounds. This rivalry with Freire underscored Weichel's resilience against elite competition, though it ended without a title win. Over the course of his Bellator tenure, Weichel compiled an 11–7 record across 18 fights, featuring key victories such as unanimous decisions over Saul Rogers in 2019 and Keoni Diggs in 2021, alongside a first-round TKO of Robert Whiteford in 2022.[16] Notable rivalries extended to Sanchez, with whom he split two bouts—a 2016 win and a 2020 unanimous decision loss—and Goiti Yamauchi, who defeated him via split decision in 2018.[3] His tournament format experience from Season Ten demonstrated strong adaptability, blending grappling dominance with improved wrestling to compete against top contenders like Pedro Carvalho (2021 loss) and Timur Khizriev (2022 loss).[17] Weichel's final appearance in Bellator came at Bellator 299 on September 23, 2023, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Mads Burnell in the lightweight division.[18]Retirement and comeback
Following a unanimous decision loss to Mads Burnell at Bellator 299 on September 23, 2023, Daniel Weichel announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, concluding a 57-fight professional career marked by extensive wear from two decades of competition.[19][20] Weichel then entered a two-year hiatus from active competition, stepping away to focus on personal matters after his long tenure in the sport.[2] In 2025, he ended his retirement by signing with the European promotion Oktagon MMA, drawn back by the chance to headline an event in his hometown of Frankfurt for the first time in his career.[8][2] On September 20, 2025, at Oktagon 76, Weichel returned to the cage in the lightweight division—shifting up from his prior featherweight competition—and secured a unanimous decision victory over Aboubakar Tounkara (30-27 on all three judges' scorecards).[21][22] This homecoming bout revitalized his trajectory, positioning him as an active contender in Oktagon MMA's lightweight division as of November 2025.[23][24]Championships and accomplishments
Major titles
Weichel won the Phoenix Valetudo Middleweight Championship in 2005 at EVT 5 - Phoenix, defeating Johan Antonsson by submission (armbar) in round 1 and Boris Jonstomp by submission (rear-naked choke) in round 2 of the tournament.[3] He captured the D:SF M.A.X. Championship in 2009 by submitting Victor Kuku via rear-naked choke in the first round at TFS - Mix Fight Gala IX on December 5, 2009.[1][3] Weichel captured the M-1 Global Lightweight Championship on November 20, 2011, at M-1 Challenge in Moscow, Russia, by knocking out defending champion Jose Figueroa with punches at 1:50 of the first round.[12] This victory marked his ascension to the pinnacle of one of the era's leading promotions outside the UFC, known for its extensive international tournament system and partnerships that broadcast events across Europe, Russia, and the United States.[25] His reign as champion endured for approximately seven months, during which he represented the promotion's elite lightweight division without additional successful defenses before his first title challenge.[12] On June 21, 2012, at M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Rizzo in Los Angeles, California, Weichel lost the belt in that debut defense via submission (heel hook) to Musa Khamanaev at 1:48 of the first round.[12] The title win and subsequent reign significantly boosted Weichel's reputation, transitioning him from regional European competitions to a recognized international contender and paving the way for opportunities in major promotions like Bellator MMA.[26]Tournament victories
Daniel Weichel achieved significant success in bracket-style MMA tournaments, particularly through his performances in major promotions. His most prominent tournament accomplishment came in Bellator MMA's Season Ten Featherweight Tournament in 2014, where he navigated an eight-man field to claim victory. In the opening round at Bellator 110 on February 28, 2014, Weichel submitted Scott Cleve via rear-naked choke in the first round at 3:46, showcasing his grappling prowess early in the competition.[27] Advancing to the semifinals at Bellator 114 on March 28, 2014, Weichel faced Matt Bessette and secured a unanimous decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) after three rounds of controlled striking and takedown defense, demonstrating his well-rounded skill set.[28][29] In the finals at Bellator 119 on May 9, 2014, he capped the tournament with a second-round rear-naked choke submission over Desmond Green at 2:18, earning him a shot at the Bellator Featherweight Championship.[30][31] This tournament run, completed in just over two months, highlighted Weichel's endurance and finishing ability, with two of his three wins coming via submission. Earlier in his career, Weichel built momentum through the M-1 Challengers series under M-1 Global, compiling an undefeated 5-0 streak from 2009 to 2011 that propelled him toward title contention. His victories included submissions over Fatih Dogan (brabo choke, Round 1, 2:29 at M-1 Challenge 13), Danial Sharifi (guillotine choke, Round 1, 2:53 at M-1 Challenge 18), and Yuri Ivlev (TKO via doctor stoppage, Round 3, 2:24 at M-1 Challenge 21), as well as a technical submission (triangle choke) against Magomedrasul Khasbulaev in Round 1, 3:26 at M-1 Challenge 23, and a unanimous decision over Beau Baker at M-1 Challenge 26.[3] These performances in the Challengers' tournament-style events, which served as developmental brackets for M-1's main roster, underscored his dominance in lightweight and featherweight divisions during that period. Weichel's tournament successes were instrumental in elevating his profile internationally, providing high-stakes exposure that contrasted with single-bout defenses and helped establish him as a top European contender. The bracket format demanded consistent victories over varied opponents, forging his reputation for adaptability and resilience in competitive fields.[14][12]Record and statistics
Professional record
Daniel Weichel's professional mixed martial arts record, as of November 2025, consists of 43 wins (6 by knockout/TKO, 22 by submission, and 15 by decision) and 15 losses (5 by knockout/TKO, 3 by submission, and 7 by decision) over 58 bouts, spanning promotions including Bellator MMA, M-1 Global, Oktagon MMA, and others from 2002 to 2025.[3]| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round | Time | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 2025 | Aboubakar Tounkara | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Oktagon MMA - Oktagon 76 | |
| Sep 23, 2023 | Mads Burnell | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 299 - Eblen vs. Edwards | |
| Nov 18, 2022 | Timur Khizriev | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 288 - Nemkov vs. Anderson 2 | |
| May 13, 2022 | Robert Whiteford | Win | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 1:12 | Bellator 281 - MVP vs. Storley | |
| Nov 05, 2021 | Pedro Carvalho | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 270 - Queally vs. Pitbull 2 | |
| Jun 25, 2021 | Keoni Diggs | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 261 - Johnson vs. Moldavsky | |
| Nov 12, 2020 | Emmanuel Sanchez | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 5 | 5:00 | Bellator 252 - Pitbull vs. Carvalho | Featherweight title fight |
| Sep 28, 2019 | Saul Rogers | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 228 - Pitbull vs. Archuleta | |
| Nov 30, 2018 | Goiti Yamauchi | Loss | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 210 - Njokuani vs. Salter | |
| Jul 14, 2018 | Patricio Freire | Loss | Decision (Split) | 5 | 5:00 | Bellator 203 - Pitbull vs. Weichel 2 | Featherweight title fight |
| Apr 14, 2017 | John Teixeira | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 177 - Dantas vs. Higo | |
| Dec 16, 2016 | Brian Moore | Win | Submission (Arm-Triangle) | 1 | 4:44 | Bellator 169 - King Mo vs. Ishii | |
| Jul 22, 2016 | Emmanuel Sanchez | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 159 - Caldwell vs. Taimanglo | |
| Dec 04, 2015 | Georgi Karakhanyan | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 147 - Thomson vs. Villaseca | |
| Jun 19, 2015 | Patricio Freire | Loss | KO (Punch) | 2 | 0:32 | Bellator 138 - Unfinished Business | Featherweight title fight |
| Feb 13, 2015 | Pat Curran | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 133 - Manhoef vs. Shlemenko | |
| May 09, 2014 | Desmond Green | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 2 | 2:07 | Bellator 119 | |
| Mar 28, 2014 | Matt Bessette | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Bellator 114 | |
| Feb 28, 2014 | Scott Cleve | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 1 | 3:46 | Bellator 110 | |
| Feb 27, 2013 | Artem Damkovsky | Win | Submission (Arm-Triangle) | 2 | 4:24 | M-1 Challenge 37 - Khamanaev vs. Puhakka | |
| Dec 08, 2012 | Georgi Stoyanov | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 2 | 2:24 | M-1 Challenge 36 - Confrontation | |
| Sep 22, 2012 | Semen Tyrlya | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 1 | 3:40 | RFC - Respect Fighting Championship 8 | |
| Jun 21, 2012 | Musa Khamanaev | Loss | Submission (Heel Hook) | 1 | 1:48 | M-1 Global - Fedor vs. Rizzo | |
| Nov 20, 2011 | Jose Figueroa | Win | KO (Punches) | 1 | 1:50 | M-1 Global - Fedor vs. Monson | |
| Jul 08, 2011 | Beau Baker | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | M-1 Challenge 26 - Garner vs. Bennett 2 | |
| Mar 05, 2011 | Magomedrasul Khasbulaev | Win | Technical Submission (Triangle) | 1 | 3:26 | M-1 Challenge 23 - Guram vs. Grishin | |
| Oct 28, 2010 | Yuri Ivlev | Win | TKO (Doctor Stoppage) | 3 | 2:24 | M-1 Challenge 21 - Guram vs. Garner | |
| Aug 29, 2010 | Avtandil Shoshiashvili | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 1 | 4:20 | FNM 3 - Fight Night Merseburg | |
| May 15, 2010 | Rob Sinclair | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 4:03 | BAMMA 3 - Watson vs. Horwich | |
| Dec 05, 2009 | Victor Kuku | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 1 | 2:57 | TFS - Mix Fight Gala IX | |
| Sep 19, 2009 | Ivan Musardo | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | Shooto - Switzerland 6 | |
| Aug 15, 2009 | Danial Sharifi | Win | Submission (Guillotine) | 1 | 2:53 | M-1 Challenge 18 - Netherlands Day One | |
| May 09, 2009 | Jimmy Sidoni | Win | TKO (Punches) | 1 | 2:32 | TFS - Mix Fight Gala 8 | |
| Mar 28, 2009 | Fatih Dogan | Win | Submission (Brabo Choke) | 1 | 2:29 | M-1 Challenge 13 - Bulgaria | |
| Oct 26, 2008 | Peter Irving | Loss | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 2 | 1:47 | SAS 8 - Strike and Submit 8 | |
| May 03, 2008 | Dan Hardy | Loss | TKO (Elbows) | 2 | N/A | UF - Punishment | |
| Apr 05, 2008 | Ian Jones | Win | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 2:38 | GF 2 - Gorilla Fight 2 | |
| Mar 02, 2008 | Jason Jones | Loss | TKO (Punch and Knee) | 1 | 0:06 | M-1 - Slamm | |
| Nov 25, 2007 | Chas Jacquier | Win | Submission (Choke) | 1 | 0:00 | TFS - Mix Fight Gala VI | |
| Apr 29, 2007 | Fatih Balci | Win | Submission (Triangle) | 1 | 0:00 | SFC - Stapel Fighting Challenge | |
| Mar 10, 2007 | Paul Daley | Loss | KO (Knee) | 1 | 2:55 | FX3 - Fight Night 4 | |
| Nov 25, 2006 | Amir Lekaj | Win | Submission (Kimura) | 1 | 0:00 | MAX 8 - Martial Arts Xtreme 8 | |
| Nov 11, 2006 | Marcelo Lopez | Win | Decision (Split) | 3 | 3:00 | MAX 6 - Martial Arts Xtreme 6 | |
| Oct 28, 2006 | Hugo Blatter | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 1 | 2:47 | MAX 4 - Martial Arts Xtreme 4 | |
| May 27, 2006 | Josenildo Ramalho | Win | Decision (Majority) | 3 | 5:00 | CWFC 23 - Strike Force 6 | |
| May 06, 2006 | Dennis Siver | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 1 | 0:00 | TFS - Mix Fight Gala 3 | |
| Mar 05, 2006 | Thiago Tavares | Loss | Submission (Guillotine) | 3 | 4:47 | CWFC 20 - Enter the Wolfslair | |
| Oct 08, 2005 | Johan Antonsson | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 1 | 3:41 | EVT 5 - Phoenix | Tournament bout |
| Oct 08, 2005 | Boris Jonstomp | Win | Submission (Rear-Naked) | 2 | 2:12 | EVT 5 - Phoenix | Tournament bout |
| Jun 17, 2005 | Mike Lucero | Win | Submission (Guillotine) | 1 | 3:40 | KOTC 55 - Grudge Match | |
| Sep 26, 2004 | Joakim Engberg | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | EVT 4 - Gladiators | |
| Aug 07, 2004 | Abdul Mohamed | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | P&G 3 - Glory Days | |
| May 22, 2004 | Gaz Roriston | Win | Submission (Keylock) | 2 | 1:57 | EVT 3 - Inferno | |
| Apr 04, 2004 | Mattias Awad | Loss | Decision (Unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 | EVT 2 - Hazard | |
| Feb 28, 2004 | Malte Janssen | Win | KO (Kick) | 2 | 0:13 | OC 2 - Outsider Cup 2 | |
| Nov 25, 2003 | Masaya Takita | Win | Decision (Unanimous) | 2 | 5:00 | Shooto - 11/25 in Kitazawa Town Hall | |
| Apr 12, 2003 | Eduardo Guimaraes | Win | KO (Flying Knee) | 1 | 2:50 | Shooto Holland - Holland vs. the World | |
| May 12, 2002 | Vincent Latoel | Win | Submission (Armbar) | 1 | 1:48 | Shooto Holland - The Lords of the Ring | Professional debut |
Career statistics
Daniel Weichel has competed in 58 professional MMA bouts from 2002 to 2025, achieving a win rate of approximately 74% with 43 victories and 15 defeats.[3][4] His wins demonstrate a strong grappling foundation, with submissions accounting for 51% (22 victories), followed by decisions at 35% (15 wins) and knockouts/tkko's at 14% (6 wins).[4] In losses, decisions predominate at 47% (7), with knockouts/tkko's at 33% (5) and submissions at 20% (3).[4]| Method | Wins (%) | Losses (%) |
|---|---|---|
| KO/TKO | 6 (14%) | 5 (33%) |
| Submission | 22 (51%) | 3 (20%) |
| Decision | 15 (35%) | 7 (47%) |