Nate Maness (born June 27, 1991) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Maness played basketball throughout high school, aspiring to continue playing in college but instead opted to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.[4]
Maness made his amateur debut in 2013, winning four bouts before turning professional in the same year.[5]
Outside the UFC, Nathan Maness collected three belts at three different weight classes, ranging from 135 through 155 lbs. in 12 professional fights, “Mayhem” won six of them via stoppage, four in the very first frame. After he won the bantamweight championship of the Quebec-based TKO promotion in 2018, his sole loss came when he dropped the belt to former UFC competitor Taylor Lapilus in May 2019 but came back with a first-round stoppage win in February in his next bout.[6]
Maness was scheduled to face Ray Borg on August 1, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan.[7] However, Borg was removed from the fight on the day of the event's weigh-in for undisclosed reasons. Maness went on to face Johnny Muñoz Jr. in a featherweight bout.[8] He won the close bout via unanimous decision.[9] 5 out of 15 media scores gave it to Muñoz, 6 out of 10 gave it to Maness, and 4 scored it a draw.[10]
Maness faced Luke Sanders on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Lewis.[11] He won the fight via second round submission.[12] He earned a Performance of the Night bonus for the win.[13]
Maness was scheduled to face Tony Gravely at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum on April 17, 2021.[14] However, Maness was removed from the bout for undisclosed reasons.[15]
The bout with Gravely was rescheduled for September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann.[16] Maness won the fight via technical knockout in round two after being knocked down and almost finished in the first round.[17] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[18]
As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Maness faced Umar Nurmagomedov on June 25, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 38.[19] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[20]
Maness faced Tagir Ulanbekov on November 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 214.[21] He lost the fight via a guillotine choke in the first round.[22]
Maness was scheduled to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288.[23] However, Nate Maness pulled out of the fight due to injury and was replaced by UFC Newcomer Rafael Estevam, who was originally scheduled to face Carlos Candelario on April 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 222.[24]
Maness faced Mateus Mendonça on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229.[25] He won the fight via TKO in the first round.[26] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[27]
Maness was scheduled to face Azat Maksum on February 3, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 235.[28] However, Maness pulled out in early January due to injury and was replaced by Charles Johnson.[29]
As the last bout of his prevailing contract, Maness faced Jimmy Flick on June 15, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 58.[30] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[31]
On June 29, 2024, it was reported that Maness was removed from UFC's roster.[32] On an interview in July 2024, Maness stated that he was not given a reason for the non-renewal of his contract but hoped to return.[33] Maness later stated that the UFC let him know that his bouts were not exciting, which is why he was not offered a new contract.[34]
On September 3, 2024, it was reported that Maness signed a multi-fight deal with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC).[35]
Maness made his BKFC debut against Nick Burgos on December 6, 2024 at BKFC 69.[36] He won the fight by technical knockout at the end of the third round.[37]
Maness is scheduled to face Tyler Randall on October 18, 2025 at BKFC Fight Night: Hammond.[38]
Maness and his wife have a daughter (born 2022).[39]
| 19 matches | 16 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 6 | 1 |
| By submission | 3 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 16–3 | Jimmy Flick | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Perez vs. Taira | June 15, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–3 | Mateus Mendonça | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Dawson vs. Green | October 7, 2023 | 1 | 4:40 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 14–3 | Tagir Ulanbekov | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Rodriguez vs. Lemos | November 5, 2022 | 1 | 2:11 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Loss | 14–2 | Umar Nurmagomedov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot | June 25, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–1 | Tony Gravely | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann | September 18, 2021 | 2 | 2:10 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Return to Bantamweight. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 13–1 | Luke Sanders | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Smith vs. Clark | November 28, 2020 | 2 | 2:29 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (140 lb) bout. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 12–1 | Johnny Muñoz Jr. | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan | August 1, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Muñoz was deducted one point in round 3 due to repeated groin strikes. |
| Win | 11–1 | Kellen VanCamp | KO (punches) | HR MMA 114 | February 1, 2020 | 1 | 1:39 | Shepherdsville, Kentucky, United States | Return to Featherweight. Won the vacant HRMMA Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 10–1 | Taylor Lapilus | KO (kick to the body) | TKO 48 | May 24, 2019 | 3 | 1:22 | Gatineau, Quebec, Canada | Lost the TKO Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–0 | Jesse Arnett | TKO (punches) | TKO 44 | September 21, 2018 | 2 | 2:53 | Québec City, Québec, Canada | Won the TKO Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Caio Machado | Decision (unanimous) | TKO 42 | March 16, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Laval, Québec, Canada | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 8–0 | Marc McDonald | Submission (brabo choke) | Premier MMA Championship 3 | May 27, 2017 | 2 | 4:10 | Covington, Kentucky, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 7–0 | Brandon Bell | Decision (unanimous) | Warrior FC: Caged Chaos | September 17, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Harlan, Kentucky, United States | Won the Warrior FC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–0 | Michael Ricketts | TKO (punches) | Colosseum Combat 33 | October 10, 2015 | 1 | 3:42 | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Kodey Gulley | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Lab 45 | March 28, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Isaiah Ferguson | Decision (split) | Hardrock MMA 69 | November 8, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Shepherdsville, Kentucky, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Brandon Sandefur | TKO (punches) | Hardrock MMA 60 | February 1, 2014 | 1 | 3:13 | Shepherdsville, Kentucky, United States | Return to Bantamweight. |
| Win | 2–0 | Jason Blackford | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Hardrock MMA 58 | November 2, 2013 | 1 | 2:55 | Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Jeremy Pender | Decision (unanimous) | Bluegrass Brawl 8 | July 27, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Lexington, Kentucky, United States | Bantamweight debut. Won the BB Bantamweight Championship. |
| 1 match | 1 win | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1–0 | Nick Burgos | TKO | BKFC 69 | December 6, 2024 | 3 | 1:59 | Duluth, Georgia, United States |
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