Nate Maness


Nate Maness is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the bantamweight division of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship as a bare-knuckle boxer. He competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of January 29, 2026, he is #3 in the BKFC men's bantamweight rankings.

Background

Maness played basketball throughout high school, aspiring to continue playing in college but instead opted to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Maness made his amateur debut in 2013, winning four bouts before turning professional in the same year.
Outside the UFC, Nathan Maness collected three belts at three different weight classes, ranging from 135 through 155 lbs. in 12 professional fights, “Mayhem” won six of them via stoppage, four in the very first frame. After he won the bantamweight championship of the Quebec-based TKO promotion in 2018, his sole loss came when he dropped the belt to former UFC competitor Taylor Lapilus in May 2019 but came back with a first-round stoppage win in February in his next bout.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Maness was scheduled to face Ray Borg on August 1, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan. However, Borg was removed from the fight on the day of the event's weigh-in for undisclosed reasons. Maness went on to face Johnny Muñoz Jr. in a featherweight bout. He won the close bout via unanimous decision. 5 out of 15 media scores gave it to Muñoz, 6 out of 10 gave it to Maness, and 4 scored it a draw.
Maness faced Luke Sanders on November 28, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Lewis. He won the fight via second round submission. He earned a Performance of the Night bonus for the win.
Maness was scheduled to face Tony Gravely at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum on April 17, 2021. However, Maness was removed from the bout for undisclosed reasons.
The bout with Gravely was rescheduled for September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann. Maness won the fight via technical knockout in round two after being knocked down and almost finished in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Maness faced Umar Nurmagomedov on June 25, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 38. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Maness faced Tagir Ulanbekov on November 5, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 214. He lost the fight via a guillotine choke in the first round.
Maness was scheduled to face Zhalgas Zhumagulov on May 6, 2023, at UFC 288. However, Nate Maness pulled out of the fight due to injury and was replaced by UFC Newcomer Rafael Estevam, who was originally scheduled to face Carlos Candelario on April 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 222.
Maness faced Mateus Mendonça on October 7, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 229. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Maness was scheduled to face Azat Maksum on February 3, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 235. However, Maness pulled out in early January due to injury and was replaced by Charles Johnson.
As the last bout of his prevailing contract, Maness faced Jimmy Flick on June 15, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 58. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
On June 29, 2024, it was reported that Maness was removed from UFC's roster. On an interview in July 2024, Maness stated that he was not given a reason for the non-renewal of his contract but hoped to return. Maness later stated that the UFC let him know that his bouts were not exciting, which is why he was not offered a new contract.

Bare-knuckle boxing

On September 3, 2024, it was reported that Maness signed a multi-fight deal with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
Maness made his BKFC debut against Nick Burgos on December 6, 2024 at BKFC 69. He won the fight by technical knockout at the end of the third round.
Maness faced Tyler Randall on October 18, 2025 at BKFC Fight Night 30. He won the fight by knockout in the second round.

Personal life

Maness and his wife have a daughter.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

  • Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • *Performance of the Night
  • Hard Rock MMA
  • *HR MMA Featherweight Championship
  • TKO Major League MMA
  • *TKO Bantamweight Championship
  • Warrior FC
  • *Warrior FC Lightweight Championship
  • Bluegrass Brawl
  • *BB Bantamweight Championship

    Mixed martial arts record

Bare knuckle record