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Adrian Yañez (born November 29, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background

Adrian Yañez was born in Houston and grew up in La Porte, Texas. His father being a Golden Gloves winner, Yañez went into boxing from a young age, but later on took up BJJ. He started training MMA at the age of 15, having his first fight at the age of 17. Before the UFC, Yañez worked for the City of Deer Park as a Meter Reader. For most of his mixed martial arts career Yañez trained under late Saul Soliz in Houston, TX.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

After finishing a successful 6-0 amateur career with four consecutive TKO’s, Yañez made his professional debut at just 20 years old, and ended with Yañez victorious by TKO in the third round. Suffering his first defeat against Levi Mowles in his very next bout, having no answer for the wrestling and ground and pound, he lost via unanimous decision. The Texan recovered with two victories in Fury FC, and then won his Bellator debut at Bellator 149 against Ryan Hollis via unanimous decision. Yañez then dropped a razor thin split decision to future UFC bantamweight Domingo Pilarte at LFA 7. Winning his next two bouts in the promotion, Yañez faced another current UFC fighter Miles Johns for the vacant LFA Bantamweight Champion at LFA 55. With history repeating itself, Yañez was on the wrong end of a close split decision loss. With two stoppage wins over Warren Stewart and Michael Rodriguez and then winning a split decision against Kyle Estrada at LFA 78, Yañez was invited to Dana White's Contender Series 28, where he defeated Brady Huang in 39 seconds , earning a UFC contract in the process.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Yañez was scheduled to make his UFC debut against Aaron Phillips on October 31, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva. However on October 20, Phillips pulled out due to an undisclosed injury. Instead, Yañez faced promotional newcomer Victor Rodriguez. Yañez won the bout via head kick knockout in the first round. This win earned him Performance Fight of the Night award.

Yañez faced Gustavo Lopez on March 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland. He won the fight via walkoff knockout in round three. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Yañez faced Randy Costa at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw on July 24, 2021. After getting dominated in the first round, Yañez rallied back in the second round winning by technical knockout. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Yañez faced Davey Grant on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 198. He won the bout via split decision, although 12 of 12 media scores gave it to Yañez. The bout earned both fighters the Fight of the Night award.

Yañez faced Tony Kelley on June 18, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 37. At the weigh-ins on June 17, Kelley weighed in at 137.5 pounds, 1.5 pounds over the non-title bantamweight limit. As a result, the bout proceeded as a catchweight and Kelley forfeited 20% of his purse to Yañez. He won the bout in the first round via TKO stoppage. This win earned him his fourth Performance of the Night award.

Yañez faced Rob Font on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287 He lost the bout via TKO in the first round.

Yañez faced Jonathan Martinez on October 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. After being dropped twice with leg kicks, Yañez lost the fight via TKO in round two.

Yañez faced Vinicius Salvador on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241. He won the bout by technical knockout from punches in the first round.

Replacing Said Nurmagomedov who withdrew for unknown reasons, Yañez faced Daniel Marcos on December 14, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 63. Yanez lost the fight by split decision.

Personal life

Yañez has a son (born 2021).

Championships and achievements

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • Performance of the Night (Four times) vs. Victor Rodriguez, Gustavo Lopez, Randy Costa, and Tony Kelley
  • Fight of the Night (One Time) vs. Davey Grant

Mixed martial arts record

See also

• List of current UFC fighters
• List of male mixed martial artists

References

1. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com.
2. ^ "Adrian Yanez ready for 'Fight of the Night' rematch with Nico Echeverry at Legacy Amateur Series 9". txmma.com. August 21, 2012.
3. Adrian Yanez (December 22, 2020). "I'm absolutely blessed. 12 years ago I started this journey, but honestly this just feels like it's barely beginning. I'm honored to be given a black belt by my Coach Saul Soliz" – via Instagram.
4. "It's Time For Adrian Yanez To Make The Jump". ufc.com. 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
5. "Welcome To My City | Derrick Lewis and Adrian Yanez". ufc.com. 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2024-09-19.
6. ^ FightBookMMA (2020-08-10). "Get to know Dana White's Contender Series fighter Adrian Yanez | FightBook MMA". Retrieved 2021-07-20.
7. Ariel Helwani (November 23, 2021). Adrian Yanez: Fight Week Was 'Hard' Without 'Father Figure' - The MMA Hour – via YouTube.
8. Henshaw, Harry (2020-10-26). "Making their mark: Adrian Yanez | MMA UK". Retrieved 2021-07-20.
9. "All 5 winners earn UFC contracts at DWCS Season 4: Week 2". MMA Fighting. 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
10. "Adrian Yanez vs. Aaron Phillips Added To UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva". fightful.com. August 19, 2020.
11. David Tees (2020-10-19). "Report: Aaron Phillips injured, off UFC Vegas 12". fightful.com. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
12. Marcel Dorff (2020-10-21). "Victor Rodriguez signs with the UFC, fighting Adrian Yanez on Oct. 31 in Las Vegas". mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2022-01-18. (in Dutch)
13. Anderson, Jay (2020-10-31). "UFC Vegas 12 Results: Adrian Yanez Drops Victor Rodriguez with Head Kick". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
14. ^ Anderson, Jay (2020-10-31). "UFC Vegas 12 Bonuses: Big Finishes by Yanez, Hernandez Lead the Pack". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
15. Marcel Dorff (2020-12-08). "Adrian Yanez treft Gustavo Lopez tijdens UFC evenement op 20 maart 2021". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-01-18.
16. Behunin, Alex (2021-03-20). "UFC Vegas 22 Results: Adrian Yanez KO's Gustavo Lopez In Third Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
17. ^ Sherdog.com. "UFC on ESPN 21 Bonuses: Griffin, Yanez, Dawson, Silva Earn Performance Checks". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-03-21.
18. ^ "Reese's vs. Dr. Pepper: Randy Costa, Adrian Yanez to settle friendly score at UFC event July 24". MMA Junkie. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
19. ^ Dan Hiergesell (2021-07-24). "UFC Vegas 32 bonuses: Darren Elkins, Adrian Yanez lead $50K winners". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2021-07-24.
20. Mike Heck (September 18, 2021). "Adrian Yanez vs. Davey Grant set for Nov. 20 UFC event". mmafighting.com.
21. Marcel Dorff (2021-09-17). "Adrian Yanez treft Davey Grant tijdens UFC evenement op 20 november". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-01-18.
22. Gibbons, Justin (2021-11-20). "UFC Vegas 43: Adrian Yanez Earns Tough Split Decision Victory Over Davey Grant". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
23. "Adrian Yanez def. Davey Grant :: UFC on ESPN+ 56 :: MMA Decisions". mmadecisions.com. Archived from the original on 2021-11-20. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
24. ^ Staff (2021-11-20). "UFC Fight Night 198 bonuses: Adrian Yanez, Davey Grant's intense battle among just three total winners". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
25. Harvey Leonard (2022-05-11). "Adrian Yanez vs. Tony Kelley Set For UFC Austin On June 18". mmanews.com. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
26. Alexander K. Lee (June 17, 2022). "UFC Austin weigh-in results: Donald Cerrone set for 38th UFC fight, Tony Kelley misses". mmafighting.com. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
27. Anderson, Jay (18 June 2022). "UFC Austin: Adrian Yanez Pieces Up Tony Kelley, Ends Heated Fight Early". Cageside Press. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
28. ^ MMA Fighting Newswire (2022-06-18). "UFC Austin post-fight bonuses: All finishers earn $50k payouts". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
29. "Adrian Yanez vs. Rob Font booked for UFC's April 8 event". MMA Junkie. 2022-12-30. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
30. Doherty, Dan (2023-04-08). "UFC 287: Rob Font Floors Adrian Yanez Care of Massive Right Hand". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-04-09.
31. Anderson, Jay (2023-08-01). "UFC: Jonathan Martinez Meets Adrian Yanez on October 14". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
32. "UFC Fight Night 230 video: Jonathan Martinez chops away for leg kick TKO of Adrian Yanez". Yahoo Sports. 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
33. Raghuwanshi, Vipin (2024-03-25). "Adrian Yanez vs Vinicius Salvador Announced for UFC May 18 Event". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2024-03-25.
34. Dewar, Val (2024-05-19). "Adrian Yanez Bounces Back From Losses, TKOs Vinicius Salvador at UFC Vegas 92". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
35. Michał Tkaczuk (2024-10-30). "Adrian Yanez wchodzi na zastępstwo na grudniową galę UFC" (in Polish). mmarocks.pl. Retrieved 2024-10-31.
36. Drew Beaupre (2024-12-14). "Rising Contender Remains Undefeated after Razor-Close Fight at UFC Tampa". si.com. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
37. Adrian Yanez: Sean O'Malley had a great performance at UFC 269 – but against another 125-pounder. MMAjunkie.com. December 21, 2021 – via YouTube.
38. Sherdog.com. "Adrian Yanez". Sherdog.

External links

• Professional MMA record for Adrian Yanez from Sherdog
• Adrian Yanez at UFC

• 1993 births
• Living people
• American male mixed martial artists
• Bantamweight mixed martial artists
• Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• Mixed martial artists from Texas
• Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
• American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
• People from La Porte, Texas
• 21st-century American sportsmen