Daniel Marcos
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Daniel Aaron Marcos Moreno (born March 7, 1993) is a Peruvian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is also a former 300 Sparta Bantamweight Champion.
Background
Born on March 7, 1993, in Peru. His interest in mixed martial arts began at the age of 21.
Marcos, since the age of nine, played in the San Miguel towers. He wanted to play for "U" (Club Universitario de Deportes), but he couldn't due to financial reasons.
Marcos worked as a mobile phone lines salesman until his coach convinced him to quit his job to pursue mixed martial arts.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Marcos made his amateur debut in 2015, at the age of 21. After six consecutive victories and no defeats, Marcos began his professional career.
He debuted in professional MMA on September 11, 2015, at the age of 22, at the '300 SPARTA 8' event. Marcos faced, and defeated by technical knockout, Marcos Cubas.
In his early professional MMA career, Marcos fought in Peru, accumulating a 12-0 record with seven finishes, all by TKO or KO. He became the bantamweight champion of 300 Sparta by facing Wanderson Targino on March 10, 2017, where he won the fight by unanimous decision. He subsequently defended the title successfully six times.
Dana White's Contender Series
On September 13, 2022, Marcos faced Brandon Lewis for a UFC contract on Dana White's Contender Series Season 6, Week 8. Marcos won the contract by defeating Lewis via unanimous decision.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Marcos made his promotional debut against Saimon Oliveira on January 21, 2023, at UFC 283. He won the fight by KO in the second round.
Marcos faced Davey Grant on July 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 224. He won the fight by split decision. 12 of 14 media outlets scored the contest for Grant.
Marcos was scheduled to face Daniel Santos on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231. However, Santos pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Victor Hugo. However, the bout was scrapped after Hugo weighed in at 138.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit.
Marcos was scheduled to face Carlos Vera on December 9, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 233. However, the fight was canceled due to visa issues on Marcos's part.
Marcos faced Aori Qileng on February 10, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 236. The fight resulted in a no contest due to repeated accidental low blows.
Marcos faced John Castañeda on June 8, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Marcos was scheduled to face Said Nurmagomedov on December 14, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 63. However, Nurmagomedov withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Adrian Yañez. Marcos won the fight by split decision.
Marcos faced Montel Jackson on May 3, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 67. He dropped the fight via unanimous decision, resulting in his first career defeat..
Marcos was scheduled to face Felipe Lima on November 22, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 265. However, Lima withdrew for unknown reasons, so Marcos was re-scheduled to face Miles Johns instead two weeks earlier on November 8, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 264. Marcos won the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.
Personal life
Marcos married his wife, Katia Ponce, on January 19, 2022, in Peru, and they have 2 children.
Championships and accomplishments
- 300 Sparta 300 Sparta Bantamweight Champion (One time) Six successful title defenses
Mixed martial arts record
| 20 matches | 18 wins | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 8 | 0 |
| By submission | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 9 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 18–1 (1) | Miles Johns | Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Bonfim vs. Brown | November 8, 2025 | 2 | 4:23 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 17–1 (1) | Montel Jackson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Figueiredo | May 3, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Des Moines, Iowa, United States | |
| Win | 17–0 (1) | Adrian Yañez | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Buckley | December 14, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 16–0 (1) | John Castañeda | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov | June 8, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Louisville, Kentucky, United States | |
| NC | 15–0 (1) | Aori Qileng | NC (accidental groin kick) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer | February 10, 2024 | 2 | 3:28 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Accidental groin strike rendered Qileng unable to continue. |
| Win | 15–0 | Davey Grant | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura | July 22, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | London, England | |
| Win | 14–0 | Saimon Oliveira | KO (knee to the body and punches) | UFC 283 | January 21, 2023 | 2 | 2:18 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | |
| Win | 13–0 | Brandon Lewis | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 54 | September 13, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada United States | |
| Win | 12–0 | Gaston Manzur | TKO (punches) | 300 Sparta 36 | December 3, 2019 | 2 | 3:04 | Lima, Peru | Defended the 300 Sparta Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 11–0 | Roy Quispe | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 300 Sparta 30 | March 16, 2019 | 2 | 5:00 | Chimbote, Peru | Defended the 300 Sparta Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–0 | Gabriel Pimenta | Decision (unanimous) | 300 Sparta 26 | June 15, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | Defended the 300 Sparta Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Cristian Jose Herrera | TKO (punches) | 300 Sparta 22 | October 27, 2017 | 2 | 4:11 | Lima, Peru | Defended the 300 Sparta Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–0 | Marlon Cardoso dos Santos | Decision (unanimous) | 300 Sparta 20 | September 1, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | Defended the 300 Sparta Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | 7–0 | Luis Zuniga | KO (flying knee) | 300 Sparta 18 | April 28, 2017 | 1 | 0:47 | Breña, Peru | Defended the 300 Sparta Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | 6–0 | Wanderson Targino | Decision (unanimous) | 300 Sparta 17 | March 10, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | Won the vacant 300 Sparta Bantamweight Championship |
| Win | 5–0 | Andres Cordero Cordova | TKO (punches) | 300 Sparta 13 | September 30, 2016 | 1 | 1:22 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 4–0 | Miguel Martinez | Decision (split) | Tatya FC 7 | May 12, 2016 | 3 | 3:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 3–0 | Luis Dapello | Decision (unanimous) | 300 Sparta 9 | February 18, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | Bantamweight debut. |
| Win | 2–0 | Jorge Antonio Enciso Huaman | TKO (retirement) | Inka FC: Warriors 5 | December 16, 2015 | 1 | 5:00 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 1–0 | Marco Cubas | TKO (punches) | 300 Sparta 8 | September 11, 2015 | 2 | 3:31 | Lima, Peru | Featherweight debut |