Marc Diakiese

Overview

Fifteen UFC fights, 13 of them decided by the judges or by a submission loss. Marc Diakiese is a lightweight who goes the distance when he wins and tends to get caught when he loses.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo native fights out of Team Diakiese and carries a 8-7 UFC record (17-7-0 across all promotions). Six of his eight UFC wins came by unanimous or split decision. Both of his stoppage wins came in his first three UFC fights.

He enters his next fight on a one-fight win streak.

UFC Career

Diakiese debuted at UFC 204 in October 2016 with a second-round TKO of Lukasz Sajewski at 4:40. He followed with a unanimous decision over Frankie Perez, then finished Teemu Packalen at 0:30 of round one in March 2017. Three fights, three wins, two stoppages.

That was the high point of the early run. A split decision loss to Drakkar Klose at The Ultimate Fighter: Redemption Finale was followed by a third-round submission loss to Dan Hooker at UFC 219, and a decision loss to Nasrat Haqparast. Three straight losses.

He rebuilt with back-to-back decisions over Joe Duffy and Lando Vannata in 2019. A decision loss to Rafael Fiziev and a first-round submission loss to Rafael Alves (1:48) followed, before he took decisions over Viacheslav Borshchev and Damir Hadžović in 2022.

Then came a loss to Michael Johnson by decision and a second-round submission loss to Joel Alvarez at 4:26. His latest outing was a split decision win over Kaue Fernandes in November 2023.

His longest UFC win streak is three, and he has never put together more than that.

Fighting Style

Diakiese is not a volume striker. He lands fewer strikes per minute than most and with below-average accuracy, but he takes very little in return. Few fighters absorb as little, which makes him hard to hit even though his defense is only about average.

His wrestling is the other trait that stands out. He shoots takedowns more often than most and is hard to take down. He rarely hunts for submissions himself, though, and three of his seven UFC losses came by submission.

His finishing is limited. Both stoppage wins are TKOs, one in the first round and one in the second. The other six wins came by decision.

Notable Wins

• Teemu Packalen — KO/TKO, round 1 (0:30), UFC Fight Night: Manuwa vs. Anderson (2017)
• Lukasz Sajewski — KO/TKO, round 2 (4:40), UFC 204: Bisping vs. Henderson (2016)
• Joe Duffy — unanimous decision, round 3, UFC Fight Night: Till vs. Masvidal (2019)
• Kaue Fernandes — split decision, round 3, UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis (2023)

Quick Facts

• Division: Lightweight
• UFC record: 8-7 (2 KO/TKO, 6 decision)
• Professional record (all promotions): 17-7-0
• UFC debut: October 2016
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height / reach: 5'10" / 73"
• Team: Team Diakiese
• Born: Democratic Republic of the Congo