Felipe Franco

Overview

Felipe Franco's one UFC win is a second-round knockout, and his two UFC losses came by decision and by submission. "Negão" is a Light Heavyweight from Salvador, Brazil, with a 1-2 UFC record and an 11-3 professional record across all promotions. That makes 2 of his 3 career losses UFC fights, if you count the UFC bouts alone.

His UFC career is three fights old. It has already shown a gap between how he fights on the feet and how he holds up when a fight doesn't stay there.

UFC Career

Franco's UFC debut came in March 2026 against Mario Pinto, who our model rates as a strong opponent. He lost a unanimous decision, going the full three rounds. Four months later, he got on the board with a KO/TKO of Levi Rodrigues Jr. at 1:40 of round 2. It's his only UFC finish and the only fight where he held a streak of any kind.

The streak lasted one fight. In October, Brendson Ribeiro submitted him at 1:49 of round 1, the fastest finish of his UFC run.

He had also lost by submission once before in the Contender Series. Freddy Vidal choked him out in round 3 at 4:48 on Dana White's Contender Series 9.5. That fight is a professional bout but not part of his UFC record, so it doesn't count in the 1-2.

Two submission losses, one in a pre-UFC bout and one in the UFC, is a small sample. It's also the pattern the data points to.

Fighting Style

Franco is a selective striker who doesn't throw much but connects with a high share of what he does throw. He takes less damage than most fighters in the UFC, though he gets hit more often than his low damage total might suggest.

The grappling is his clearest trait. He shoots for takedowns often and is very hard to take down, so he usually decides whether a fight goes to the mat. He rarely hunts submissions himself.

His one UFC win came by TKO in the second round. His losses came by submission and by decision.

Notable Wins

• Levi Rodrigues Jr. — KO/TKO, round 2 (1:40), UFC Fight Night: Du Plessis vs. Usman (2026)

Quick Facts

• Division: Light Heavyweight
• UFC record: 1-2
• Professional record (all promotions): 11-3-0
• UFC debut: March 2026
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height: 6'2"; reach: 77"
• Born: Salvador, BA, Brazil