Brian Kelleher

Fighter Facts

• Pro since 2011
   
• Has won five of his last eight
   
• Eight wins by KO, 10 by submission (7 guillotine, 3 RNC)
   
• 10 first round finishes
   
• Holds 2015 win over UFC vet Andre Soukhamthath
   
• Unbeaten amateur record (3-0)

UFC History
UFC 272 (3/5/22) Kelleher was submitted by Umar Nurmagomedov via rear naked choke at 3:15 of the first round
UFC Fight Night (1/15/22) Kelleher won a three-round unanimous decision over Kevin Croom
UFC Fight Night (8/21/21) Kelleher won a three-round unanimous decision over Domingo Pilarte
UFC 258 (2/13/21) Kelleher lost a three round unanimous decision to Ricky Simon
UFC Fight Night (9/5/20) Kelleher submitted Ray Rodriguez via guillotine choke at :39 of the first round
UFC 250 (6/6/20) Kelleher lost a three round unanimous decision to Cody Stamann
UFC Fight Night (5/13/20) Kelleher knocked out Hunter Azure at 3:40 of the second round
UFC 246 (1/18/20) Kelleher submitted Ode’ Osbourne via guillotine choke at 2:39 of the first round
UFC 232 (12/29/18) Kelleher was submitted by Montel Jackson via D’Arce choke at 1:40 of the first round
UFC 224 (5/12/18) Kelleher was knocked out by John Lineker at 3:43 of the third round
UFC on FOX (2/24/18) Kelleher won a three round unanimous decision over Renan Barao
UFC Fight Night (10/21/17) Kelleher stopped Damian Stasiak via strikes at 3:39 of the third round
UFC on FOX (7/22/17) Kelleher was submitted by Marlon Vera via armbar at 2:18 of the first round
UFC 212 (6/3/17) Kelleher submitted Iuri Alcantara via guillotine choke at 1:48 of the first round

Q&A

TRAINING: A typical day is MMA practice / padwork / run or swim workout 
When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training for fighting in 2007. I had always been a well-rounded athlete, playing
What ranks and titles have you held? I have held the Ring of Combat bantamweight title and the World Cup of MMA featherweight title 
Do you have any heroes? My parents and Joe Rogan 
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means everything to fight in the UFC. I have been working day in and day out sacrificing for 10 years now with this vision. I truly only know this sport and at this point it's my whole life. Now I'm finally here. Boom time! 
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I went to college for two years until I realized the best education is self-education. I also knew that MMA was all I wanted to do since then. So I never got a degree 
What was your job before you started fighting? I worked at a chemical company called BASF as a technician in manufacturing. I used it as motivation to keep winning fights so I could be free and do what I want. I quit my job five months ago and decided to keep training full time 
If any, list specific accomplishments in pro competition? Winning two titles in two different weight classes were big accomplishments in my pro career. Another big accomplishment was my spinning backfist KO in front of Dana White for his show “Lookin’ for a Fight.” I knew I caught his attention there.
If any, list ranks in any martial arts styles: Brown belt in jiu-jitsu 
Favorite grappling technique: Guillotine 
Favorite Striking technique: Anything spinning, and body shots