Welcome to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), big boys.
UFC’s Heavyweight division has been in rough shape for some time, with both ranked fighters and up-and-coming prospects failing to inspire much excitement. Some would argue the division hasn’t looked this thin in over a decade.
Matchmaker Mick Maynard, however, appears to be addressing the problem head-on. In recent months, the promotion has gone out and added fresh blood to the roster, from former PFL champion Ante Delija to BJJ legend Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida (though only one of them delivered in his debut). Now, three more new faces are set to join the mix.
First up is Max Gimenis (6-1), a decorated BJJ competitor who has captured titles at the World, Pan American, and Brazilian National championships. Despite his grappling pedigree, nearly all of his MMA wins have come by knockout — and all but one ended inside two minutes. The knock on him? He’s faced weak competition, with only one opponent owning a .500 record.
For what it’s worth, he was submitted by Nicky Rod at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational (CJI 1) in 2024.
Next is Jose Luiz (6-1), better known as “Montanha.” Training out of Gile Ribeiro Team in Curitiba, Brazil, the 6’4” powerhouse made his pro debut in 2016, picked up two wins, then disappeared from competition for five years. Since returning in 2021, he’s fought sparingly, but he brings a 100 percent finish rate with four submissions and two knockouts.
His lone career loss came against Contender Series alum Richard Jacobi in 2022.
Finally, the most intriguing of the trio: Marek Bujlo (6-0) of Poland. A true finisher, Bujlo has ended all six of his fights inside two minutes, splitting wins evenly between knockouts and submissions. The 31-year-old relies on a simple but effective formula: drag his opponent to the ground quickly, overwhelm them with strikes, or snatch a quick tap.
He’s really fun to watch.
While none of these signings can yet be called blue-chip prospects, they’re exactly what the UFC Heavyweight division needs: fresh names, finishing ability, and the potential to shake up one of the roster’s weakest weight classes.
As of now, no official debut dates have been announced, but don’t be surprised if fight news comes sooner rather than later.