Max Griffin
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Max Griffin (born November 29, 1985) is an American professional mixed martial artist. Griffin currently competes in the Welterweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2009, Griffin has also competed for Tachi Palace Fights, where he was the welterweight champion.
Background
Griffin was born in Santa Barbara, California, United States. He has a black belt in Bok Fu (a blend of Kenpo, Tae-Kwon-Do, and Kung Fu).
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Griffin started his MMA career on October 10, 2009. He fought for many promoters, notably Gladiator Challenge, West Coast Fighting Championship, the Warriors Cage, and Tachi Palace Fights in California. He was the former West Coast Fighting Championship welterweight and middleweight champion. Griffin was also the Tachi Palace Fight welterweight champion, and he amassed a record of 12–2 prior joining UFC.
The Ultimate Fighter
Griffin was selected as one of the contestants for The Ultimate Fighter 16 in 2012; he lost to Matt Secor and was eliminated during the entry round.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Griffin made his promotional debut on August 20, 2016, at UFC 202 against Colby Covington. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round.
Griffin faced Erick Montano on his next fight at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson on November 5, 2016. He won the fight and claimed his first UFC win via knockout in the first round.
Griffin was expected to face Sérgio Moraes on March 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 106. He was replaced by Davi Ramos as Griffin pulled out of the fight, citing an undisclosed injury.
Griffin faced Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos on October 28, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 119. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Despite the loss, Griffin was awarded the Fight of the Night bonus award.
In the last bout of his contract, Griffin faced Mike Perry on February 24, 2018, at UFC on Fox 28. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Griffin faced Curtis Millender on July 7, 2018, at UFC 226. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Griffin faced Thiago Alves at UFC Fight Night 144 on February 2, 2019. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision. Conversely, 16 of 18 media outlets scored the bout in favor of Griffin.
Griffin faced Zelim Imadaev on April 13, 2019, at UFC 236. He won the fight via majority decision. Imadaev was deducted a point in the first round for grabbing the fence. After the fight, Griffin signed a new, five-fight contract with the UFC.
Griffin faced Alex Morono on October 12, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 161. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Griffin faced Alex Oliveira on March 7, 2020, at UFC 248. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.
Griffin faced Ramiz Brahimaj on November 7, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 17. He won the fight via technical knockout due to a doctor stoppage after Brahimaj's ear was split open in round three.
Griffin faced Song Kenan on March 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 21. He won the fight via knockout in round one. This win earned him thePerformance of the Night award.
Griffin faced Carlos Condit on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Griffin faced Neil Magny on March 26, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 33. He lost the fight via split decision.
Griffin faced Tim Means on October 29, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 213. He won the fight via a split decision.
Griffin faced Michael Morales on July 1, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 48. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Griffin faced Jeremiah Wells on February 10, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 236. He won the fight via split decision.
Griffin faced Michael Chiesa on December 7, 2024, at UFC 310. He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round, leading to the first submission loss in his career.
Griffin faced Chris Curtis on July 12, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 70 in Nashville, Tennessee. He lost the fight by split decision.
Griffin is scheduled to face Victor Valenzuela on April 25, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 274.
Personal life
Max and his fiancée Anastasia have a son.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Song Kenan
- West Coast Fighting Championship West Coast Fighting Championship Welterweight Champion (One time) vs. Randall Wallace West Coast Fighting Championship Middleweight Champion (One time) vs. David Mitchell
- Tachi Palace Fight Tachi Palace Fight Welterweight Champion (One time) vs. Riky Legere
Mixed martial arts record
| 32 matches | 20 wins | 12 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 1 |
| By submission | 2 | 1 |
| By decision | 9 | 10 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 20–12 | Chris Curtis | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Teixeira | July 12, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Loss | 20–11 | Michael Chiesa | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 310 | December 7, 2024 | 3 | 1:56 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 20–10 | Jeremiah Wells | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Pyfer | February 10, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 19–10 | Michael Morales | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Strickland vs. Magomedov | July 1, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–9 | Tim Means | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Allen | October 29, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 18–9 | Neil Magny | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus | March 26, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Win | 18–8 | Carlos Condit | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 264 | July 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–8 | Song Kenan | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland | March 20, 2021 | 1 | 2:20 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 16–8 | Ramiz Brahimaj | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira | November 7, 2020 | 3 | 2:03 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–8 | Alex Oliveira | Decision (split) | UFC 248 | March 7, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–7 | Alex Morono | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson | October 12, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 15–6 | Zelim Imadaev | Decision (majority) | UFC 236 | April 13, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Imadaev was deducted one point in round 1 due to grabbing the cage. |
| Loss | 14–6 | Thiago Alves | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Assunção vs. Moraes 2 | February 2, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Fortaleza, Brazil | |
| Loss | 14–5 | Curtis Millender | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 226 | July 7, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 14–4 | Mike Perry | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens | February 24, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Orlando, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 13–4 | Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida | October 28, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | São Paulo, Brazil | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 13–3 | Erick Montaño | TKO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson | November 5, 2016 | 1 | 0:54 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Loss | 12–3 | Colby Covington | TKO (punches) | UFC 202 | August 20, 2016 | 3 | 2:18 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | David Mitchell | KO (punch) | West Coast FC 16 | January 23, 2016 | 1 | 0:43 | Sacramento, California, United States | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
| Win | 11–2 | Randall Wallace | TKO (punch) | West Coast FC 15 | October 10, 2015 | 4 | 1:44 | Sacramento, California, United States | Defended the WCFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 10–2 | Chidi Njokuani | Decision (split) | Tachi Palace Fights 23 | May 7, 2015 | 5 | 5:00 | Lemoore, California, United States | Lost the TPF Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 10–1 | Ricky Legere Jr. | KO (punch) | Tachi Palace Fights 21 | November 6, 2014 | 1 | 3:21 | Lemoore, California, United States | Won the TPF Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–1 | Randall Wallace | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Tachi Palace Fights 19 | June 19, 2014 | 2 | 2:20 | Lemoore, California, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Waachiim Spiritwolf | Decision (split) | The Warriors Cage 19 | January 25, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Porterville, California, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 7–1 | Fernando Gonzalez | Decision (split) | West Coast FC 7 | November 16, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | Middleweight debut. Won the WCFC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–1 | Kito Andrew | Decision (unanimous) | West Coast FC 5 | May 3, 2013 | 5 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | Won the WCFC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–1 | Richard Rigmaden | Submission (anaconda choke) | West Coast FC 4 | January 18, 2013 | 1 | 0:56 | Sacramento, California, United States | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Justin Baesman | Decision (split) | West Coast FC 2 | June 9, 2012 | 5 | 5:00 | Yuba City, California, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Jaime Jara | KO (punch) | West Coast FC 1 | January 7, 2012 | 1 | 0:56 | Placerville, California, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Joshua Miranda | Decision (unanimous) | Gladiator Challenge: Impulse | November 13, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Placerville, California, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Aaron Hamilton | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: Undisputed | September 18, 2010 | 2 | 2:20 | Placerville, California, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Kino Vuittonet | TKO (punches) | Gladiator Challenge: First Strike | October 10, 2009 | 1 | 0:25 | Placerville, California, United States | Welterweight debut. |
See also
External links
- at UFC
- at Sherdog
- at Tapology.com
- at Fight Matrix