MMA Fighters That Lost Their Pro Debut

The world of MMA is unpredictable, and even the most hyped fighters can stumble early in their careers. Despite that, some still go on to have success. Amanda Nunes went on to become the GWOAT of MMA, becoming the first fighter to hold championships in two divisions simultaneously. Glover Teixeira made history as the oldest first-time UFC champion at 42 years old. Both lost their first pro fight.

While most lists highlight familiar names like Andrei Arlovski, Cub Swanson, Forrest Griffin, Renan Barão, Rafael dos Anjos, Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza, and Jon Fitch, we decided to dig a bit deeper. Here’s a look at some other notable MMA fighters who lost their pro debut.

Cris Cyborg

Cris Cyborg’s first professional fight ended in a first-round submission via kneebar. However, she rebounded to craft one of the most dominant careers in MMA history. Cyborg has held championships in Strikeforce, UFC, Bellator, and the PFL. On her farewell tour, she plans to cap off a legendary 20-year career with two final bouts.

Aaron Pico

One of the most hyped MMA prospects in recent history, Aaron Pico’s professional debut ended in a shocking defeat. The decorated wrestler and amateur boxer had always aimed for an MMA career. At just 20 years old, Pico entered his debut as a heavy favorite against a seasoned 10-fight veteran with an 8-2 record. However, his lack of experience in the full spectrum of MMA showed, and he was submitted in under 30 seconds. Despite ups and downs in his career, Pico has slowly grown into the fighter everyone anticipated. Now 28, he’s on the verge of championship contention, continuing to develop and refine his skills.

Gillian Robertson

Gillian Robertson lost her debut via unanimous decision, despite coming in as a favorite after a successful amateur run. Since then, she’s been very active and steadily improving, stringing together wins and refining her grappling and striking. Her grappling has been dominant and a problem for everyone who has stepped in the cage with her. With a few more impressive victories, Robertson could find herself in the strawweight title picture soon.

Alex Pereira

Now one of the UFC’s most polarizing figures, Alex Pereira lost his MMA debut via third-round submission. At the time, Pereira was in the midst of a successful kickboxing career. While his grappling needed work, his striking prowess had already been established. After a win in his next MMA fight via KO/TKO, Pereira returned to kickboxing and dominated the next four years. Afterwards, Pereira transitioned back to MMA, eventually capturing the UFC Middleweight and Light Heavyweight Championships.

Merab Dvalishvili

Merab Dvalishvili’s professional debut ended in a majority decision loss in a fight with four-minute rounds. He made his debut after two quick KO/TKO finishes as an amateur, and was an underdog coming into the fight. Despite a rocky start, including a 1-2 record in his first three fights and two UFC losses, Dvalishvili turned things around. Now the UFC Bantamweight Champion, he boasts an 11-fight win streak and is a dominant force in the division.

Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili lost her pro debut via unanimous decision in a two-round bout. She fought against 17-year-old Bo Meng, who was also debuting. Undeterred, Zhang won her next 21 fights, capturing the UFC Strawweight Championship and becoming the first Chinese UFC champion. Today, she is one of MMA’s most exciting athletes to watch.

The Infamous Debut: CM Punk

CM Punk’s MMA debut remains one of the most talked-about in history. At 37 years old, the former pro wrestler faced a 24-year-old Mickey Gall, who dominated and submitted Punk in the first round. Punk’s second fight ended in a unanimous decision loss. The fight was later overturned to a no-contest due to his opponent testing positive for marijuana. With an official record of 0-1 (1 NC), Punk retired after two UFC fights. His MMA crossover proving brief but memorable.

From champions to fan favorites, these fighters exemplify resilience and the ability to overcome adversity. Not every career in MMA is successful. But many of these MMA fighters who lost their pro debut were able to show early losses don’t define a fighter’s career.

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About Post Author

Connor Rogowsky

Connor “Rags” Rogowsky is a Co-Founder of The Scrap, where he contributes MMA content and occasionally delves into the world of pro wrestling. A former collegiate athlete in football and track, Connor pairs his sports experience with academic expertise to the pieces he writes. He holds a Master of Science in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.

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Joey Torres

Joey Torres is a Co-Founder of The Scrap, and a dedicated storyteller with a passion for Pro Wrestling and Combat Sports. With a Master of Science in Integrated Design, Business & Technology from the University of Southern California, Joey combines creativity and branding to bring compelling stories to life while bringing refreshingly original content to the world of sports media.

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