André Muniz de Aguiar (born February 17, 1990) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

André Muniz
BornAndré Muniz de Aguiar[1]
(1990-02-17) February 17, 1990 (age 34)
Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Other namesSergipano
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
DivisionLight Heavyweight
Middleweight
Reach78.0 in (198 cm)[2]
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofMontes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
TeamTata Fight Team Montes Claros
Rank3rd degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Otávio Duarte[3]
Dark blue prajied in Muay Thai[4]
Years active2009–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total30
Wins24
By knockout4
By submission15
By decision5
Losses6
By knockout5
By submission1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

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Born in Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Muniz was a very active teenager, which made his mother sign him up for Jiu-Jitsu classes to see if he could get calmer and more disciplined. It worked, Muniz fell in love with martial arts, and started practicing Muay Thai too. His first competition happened when he was 15 years old, a white belt championship in Montes Claros. He began practicing MMA at the age of 19, when he asked his teacher at the time to schedule a fight for him.[5]

Muniz attended Faculdades Unidas do Norte de Minas, from where he graduated with bachelor's degree in physical education with honors.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

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Muniz started his career travelling back and forth between his hometown and Rio de Janeiro, training with the likes of Thiago Santos and Luis Henrique at Tata Fight Team, and earning extra money on the side as a personal trainer to make ends meet in between fights. Starting off with a decision win over former PRIDE star and WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho at the Bitetti Combat 19 event on February 6, 2014, Muniz would go on to win 10 out of the next 11 bouts between 2014 and 2018, culminating in being offered a chance on Dana White's Contender Series.[7][8]

Dana White's Contender Series

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Muniz was invited onto the Brazilian version of DWCS at Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 on August 11, 2018. He won a unanimous decision against Bruno Assis, but the win did not win him a UFC contract.[9]

Almost a year later, Muniz returned to DWCS to face undefeated Taylor Johnson at Dana White's Contender Series 23 on August 6, 2019. He finished Johnson via rear-naked choke in the first round, finally winning a UFC contract.[10]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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After two wins in Dana White's Contender Series, Muniz signed with the UFC and made his promotional debut against Antônio Arroyo at UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré on November 16, 2019. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[11]

Muniz made his sophomore appearance against Bartosz Fabiński at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai on September 5, 2020. He won the fight via first-round armbar.[12]

Muniz was scheduled to face Andrew Sanchez at UFC 257 on January 23, 2021.[13] However, Muniz withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Makhmud Muradov.[14]

Muniz faced multiple-time Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Ronaldo Souza at UFC 262 on May 15, 2021.[15] He won the fight via technical submission in the first round after breaking Souza's arm in an armbar, becoming the first person to submit Souza in the process.[16] The feat was widely recognized and named as the Submission of the Year by the mixed martial arts media and also the UFC itself.[17][18][19][20][21]

Muniz was scheduled to face Dricus Du Plessis on December 11, 2021, at UFC 269.[22] However, Du Plessis was removed from the event due to injury and he was replaced by Eryk Anders.[23] He won the fight via an armbar submission in the first round.[24]

Muniz was scheduled to face Uriah Hall on April 16, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 206[25] However, Hall withdrew due to undisclosed reasons,[26] and the bout was cancelled.[27] The bout with Hall was rescheduled for UFC 276 on July 2.[28] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[29]

Muniz faced Brendan Allen on February 25, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 220.[30] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in round three.[31]

Muniz faced Paul Craig on July 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 224.[32] He lost the fight via ground and pound TKO in the second round.[33]

Muniz faced Park Jun-yong on December 9, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 233.[34] He won the fight via split decision.[35] 10 out of 14 media outlets scored the contest for Park.[36]

Muniz was scheduled to face Ikram Aliskerov on June 15, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 242.[37] However, the bout was cancelled because Muniz suffered a foot fracture which caused him to withdraw from the event.[38]

Muniz has been re-booked to face Ikram Aliskerov on February 1, 2025 at UFC Fight Night 250.[39]

Personal life

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Muniz is the father of two daughters. In a December 2021 interview with Sherdog, Muniz said that he used the bonus money that he won for his performance against Bartosz Fabinski at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai to purchase a plot of land where he plans to build a home for his family.[40]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
30 matches 24 wins 6 losses
By knockout 4 5
By submission 15 1
By decision 5 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 24–6 Park Jun-yong Decision (split) UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Gutiérrez December 9, 2023 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 23–6 Paul Craig TKO (elbows) UFC Fight Night: Aspinall vs. Tybura July 22, 2023 2 4:40 London, England
Loss 23–5 Brendan Allen Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Muniz vs. Allen February 25, 2023 3 4:25 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 23–4 Uriah Hall Decision (unanimous) UFC 276 July 2, 2022 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 22–4 Eryk Anders Submission (armbar) UFC 269 December 11, 2021 1 3:13 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 21–4 Ronaldo Souza Technical Submission (armbar) UFC 262 May 15, 2021 1 3:59 Houston, Texas, United States Submission of the Year.
Win 20–4 Bartosz Fabiński Submission (armbar) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai September 5, 2020 1 2:42 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 19–4 Antônio Arroyo Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Błachowicz vs. Jacaré November 16, 2019 3 5:00 São Paulo, Brazil
Win 18–4 Taylor Johnson Submission (rear-naked choke) Dana White's Contender Series 23 August 6, 2019 1 1:46 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 17–4 Bruno Assis Decision (unanimous) Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 August 11, 2018 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Return to Middleweight.
Win 16–4 Willyanedson Paiva Submission (armbar) Watch Out Combat Show 49 March 24, 2018 1 0:38 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Catchweight (194 lb) bout.
Win 15–4 João Paulo dos Santos TKO (punches) Watch Out Combat Show 48 December 15, 2017 1 1:18 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss 14–4 Azamat Murzakanov KO (punch) United Caucasian FC 1 October 2, 2016 1 0:50 Nalchik, Russia
Win 14–3 Welington Lima Rafael Submission (rear-naked choke) War of Champions 6 April 29, 2016 1 1:30 Montes Claros, Brazil
Win 13–3 Carlos Eduardo Tavares Silva Submission (guillotine choke) X-Fight MMA 12 November 14, 2015 1 0:45 Gavião Peixoto, Brazil
Win 12–3 Flávio Rodrigo Magon Submission (triangle choke) X-Fight MMA 11 August 21, 2015 1 2:15 Araraquara, Brazil Light Heavyweight debut.
Win 11–3 José Aparecido Santos Gomes Submission (arm-triangle choke) Coliseu Extreme Fight 12 May 9, 2015 2 4:36 Arapiraca, Brazil
Win 10–3 Rafael Correia Submission (brabo choke) Face to Face 10 February 21, 2015 1 N/A Itaboraí, Brazil
Win 9–3 João Paulo dos Santos Submission (arm-triangle choke) Watch Out Combat Show 40 December 13, 2014 1 2:40 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 8–3 Marcelo Barbosa Ramos Submission (guillotine choke) Watch Out Combat Show 34 May 24, 2014 1 N/A Montes Claros, Brazil
Win 7–3 Paulo Filho Decision (unanimous) Bitetti Combat 19 February 6, 2014 3 5:00 Manaus, Brazil Defended the interim Bitetti Combat Middleweight Championship.
Loss 6–3 Júlio César dos Santos TKO (punches) Watch Out Combat Show 30 October 18, 2013 2 1:05 Montes Claros, Brazil For the WOCS Middleweight Championship.
Win 6–2 Tiago Mônaco Submission (brabo choke) Bitetti Combat 16 July 19, 2013 1 2:48 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Won the interim Bitetti Combat Middleweight Championship.
Win 5–2 Daniel Oliveira KO (punch) Watch Out Combat Show 24 March 23, 2013 1 2:55 Montes Claros, Brazil
Win 4–2 Rodrigo Carlos Submission (triangle choke) Watch Out Combat Show 22 November 9, 2012 2 0:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Loss 3–2 Douglas Moura TKO (punches) Jungle Fight 39 May 12, 2012 1 2:51 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 3–1 Wagner Silva Gomes TKO (punches) Fight Brazil Combat October 1, 2011 2 1:15 Montes Claros, Brazil
Loss 2–1 Júlio César dos Santos TKO (doctor stoppage) Bitetti Combat 9 June 18, 2011 1 5:00 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Win 2–0 Paulo Victor Franco TKO (punches) Fight Brazil Combat November 15, 2009 3 0:00 Montes Claros, Brazil
Win 1–0 Ary Santos Submission (triangle choke) Fight Brazil Combat April 3, 2009 1 0:00 Montes Claros, Brazil

[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "André Muniz MMA Fighter Page". Tapology. Retrieved 2023-12-30.
  2. ^ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2020-10-04.
  3. ^ @andremunizsergipano (February 1, 2021). "Em dezembro de 2020 completei 9 anos de faixa preta, hoje fui promovido a 3º grau na faixa preta. Muito obrigado a minha família, minha equipe TFT. Obrigado mestre Otávio Duarte (@tftmma ), e mestre @marcosdavidbjj (quem me formou faixa preta). Agradeço também aos meus alunos pela motivação diária" (in Portuguese) – via Instagram.
  4. ^ Gian Marlon (August 6, 2019). "Sergipano encara mais uma luta no UFC em Las Vegas". onorte.net (in Portuguese).
  5. ^ "Andre Muniz | UFC". www.ufc.com. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  6. ^ "Egresso do curso de Educação Física vence luta e assina contrato com o UFC". funorte.edu.br (in Portuguese). August 12, 2019. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Guilherme Cruz (February 10, 2014). "Brazil results roundup: Paulo Filho loses at Biletti, Thiago Meller wins at XFC International". mmafighting.com.
  8. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2020-09-04). "Andre Muniz finally seen as true professional fighter in hometown after first UFC win". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  9. ^ John Morgan (2018-08-31). "Dana White's Contender Series Brazil 2 results: Three more contracts awarded". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  10. ^ Martin, Damon (2019-08-06). "Dana White's Contender Series: Season 3, Week 7 Results: 3 fighters awarded UFC contracts". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  11. ^ Josh Evanoff (November 16, 2019). "UFC Sao Paulo Results: Andre Muniz Outgrapples Antonio Arroyo". cagesidepress.com.
  12. ^ Damon Martin (September 5, 2020). "UFC Vegas 9 video: Andre Muniz taps out Bartosz Fabinski with slick armbar in the first round". mmafighting.com.
  13. ^ Guilherme Cruz (November 19, 2020). "Andre Muniz set to face TUF 23 winner Andrew Sanchez at UFC 257". mmafighting.com.
  14. ^ Farah Hannoun (December 24, 2020). "With Andre Muniz out, Makhmud Muradov steps in to face Andrew Sanchez at UFC 257". MMAjunkie.com.
  15. ^ Guilherme Cruz (March 24, 2021). "'Jacare' Souza vs. Andre Muniz set for UFC 262". mmafighting.com.
  16. ^ Anderson, Jay (2021-05-15). "UFC 262 Results: Andre Muniz Snaps Jacare's Arm in Submission Win". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-05-16.
  17. ^ a b Thomas Gerbasi (December 22, 2021). "The 10 Best Submissions Of 2021". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  18. ^ a b Ben Duffy (December 27, 2021). "Sherdog's 2021 Submission of the Year". Sherdog.
  19. ^ a b >Mike Bohn (January 4, 2022). "MMA Junkie's Submission of the Year for 2021: Andre Muniz def. 'Jacare' Souza". MMAjunkie.com.
  20. ^ a b Damon Martin (December 30, 2021). "MMA Fighting's 2021 Submission of the Year: Andre Muniz snaps Jacare Souza's arm". mmafighting.com.
  21. ^ a b Jordan Ellis (December 28, 2021). "Submission Of The Year – LowKickMMA 2021 Awards". lowkickmma.com.
  22. ^ Heck, Mike (2021-09-08). "Surging middleweights Andre Muniz, Dricus Du Plessis meet at UFC 269". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  23. ^ Marcel Dorff (2021-11-09). "BREAKING: Eryk Anders vervangt Dricus du Plessis tegen Andre Muniz tijdens UFC 269". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  24. ^ Behunin, Alex (2021-12-11). "UFC 269: Andre Muniz Taps Eryk Anders, Calls Out Darren Till". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2021-12-13.
  25. ^ "Hall treft "arm collector" Muniz op 16 april". Eurosport (in Dutch). 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
  26. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2022-04-02). "Uriah Hall out of UFC Vegas 51 co-main event, replacement opponent sought for Andre Muniz". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  27. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-04-06). "Andre Muniz off UFC on ESPN 34 after Uriah Hall's withdrawal". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  28. ^ Behunin, Alex (23 April 2022). "Uriah Hall vs. Andre Muniz Rebooked For UFC 276 On July 2". Cageside Press. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  29. ^ Doherty, Dan (2022-07-02). "UFC 276: Andre Muniz Smothers Uriah Hall, Enters Top Ten". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2022-07-03.
  30. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2022-12-17). "Andre Muniz draws Brendan Allen at Feb. 25 UFC event". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  31. ^ Dewar, Val (2023-02-25). "UFC Vegas 70: Promoted to Main Event, Brendan Allen Submits Andre Muniz". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  32. ^ Calhoun, Curtis (2023-05-15). "Paul Craig set for UFC Middleweight debut against ranked contender". MMA News. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
  33. ^ Morehouse, Cade (2023-07-22). "UFC London: Paul Craig Finds Smashing Success in Middleweight Debut Against Andre Muniz". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  34. ^ Desk, ITN News (2023-09-28). "Andre Muniz to face Jun Yong Park at UFC China on December 9". www.itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-09-28. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  35. ^ Dewar, Val (2023-12-10). "UFC Vegas 83: Andre Muniz Edges "Iron Turtle" Jun Yong Park on Scorecards". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-12-10.
  36. ^ "Andre Muniz def. Jun Yong Park :: UFC on ESPN 91 :: MMA Decisions".
  37. ^ Sherdog.com. "Andre Muniz vs. Ikram Aliskerov Booked for UFC Fight Night on June 15". Sherdog. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  38. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2024-05-30). "Andre Muniz injured, out of UFC Vegas 93 fight with Ikram Aliskerov". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
  39. ^ Neri Fung (2024-10-21). "Luta remarcada! André Sergipano encara Ikram Aliskerov no UFC em fevereiro" (in Spanish). agfight.com. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
  40. ^ Stein, Christian (2021-12-09). "7 Questions for Andre Muniz". Sherdog. Retrieved 2021-12-12. I'm a father to two daughters. In Brazil, athletes usually go through many difficulties, but I've always had my feet firmly planted on the ground. With that bonus, I bought a plot of land on which to build my home.
  41. ^ Stephie Haynes (2020-09-05). "UFC Vegas 9 post-fight bonuses: OSP stops Menifield for POTN honors". bloodyelbow.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-13. Retrieved 2020-09-06.
  42. ^ Mike Bohn (June 4, 2021). "MMA Junkie's 'Submission of the Month' for May: An unceremonious arm snap". MMAjunkie.com.
  43. ^ Danny Segura (January 6, 2022). "MMA Junkie's 2021 Under-the-Radar Fighter of the Year: Andre Muniz". MMAjunkie.com.
  44. ^ Sherdog.com. "Andre Muniz". Sherdog. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
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