| John Makdessi | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1985-05-03)May 3, 1985 (age 40) Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Other names | The Bull |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1] |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
| Division | Lightweight |
| Reach | 68 in (173 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Laval, Quebec, Canada |
| Team | Roufusport (2018–)[2] Tristar Gym Team Bull Thai long Muay Thai |
| Rank | Black belt inShotokan Karate[3] |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 27 |
| Wins | 18 |
| By knockout | 9 |
| By decision | 9 |
| Losses | 9 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 6 |
| Other information | |
| Website | www.johnmakdessi.com |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
John Makdessi (born May 3, 1985) is a Canadian professionalmixed martial artist who competes in theLightweight division and competed in theUltimate Fighting Championship.
Makdessi was born inHalifax,Nova Scotia, Canada on May 3, 1985, and is a first-generation Lebanese-Canadian born to Lebanese parents.[4] His martial arts training started with Tae Kwon Do at the age of six.[3] When Makdessi started high school, his dojo closed, and he could no longer continue. Towards the end of high school at the age of 19, he found a karate dojo where he learnedShotokan. Makdessi spent a lot of his time competing in kickboxing tournaments, and in 2006 won a gold medal in the USKBA. After going 22–0 in kickboxing,[3] Makdessi began training inmixed martial arts.
Makdessi made his professional MMA debut in 2008 and compiled an undefeated record of 7-0 before being signed by theUFC.
Makdessi signed with the UFC in 2010. He made his promotional debut on December 11, 2010, atUFC 124 in Montreal, winning a dominant (30-27, 30–27, 30–26) decision over Pat Audinwood.[5]
Makdessi was expected to faceTUF 12 winnerJonathan Brookins on April 30, 2011, atUFC 129.[6] Brookins pulled out of the bout and was replaced by another TUF 12 alum inKyle Watson, who Makdessi knocked out with a spinning backfist in the third round.[7]
Makdessi was expected to facePaul Taylor on August 14, 2011, atUFC on Versus 5, but withdrew due to injury.[8][9]
Makdessi suffered the first loss of his career toDennis Hallman on December 10, 2011, atUFC 140, via first-round rear naked choke.[10]
Makdessi lost a unanimous decision to fellow strikerAnthony Njokuani on April 21, 2012, atUFC 145.[11][12]
Makdessi next defeatedSam Stout by unanimous decision on November 17, 2012, atUFC 154.[13]
Makdessi then foughtDaron Cruickshank atUFC 158 on March 16, 2013.[14] He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Makdessi was expected to faceEdson Barboza on July 6, 2013, atUFC 162.[15] Makdessi pulled out of the bout citing an injury and was replaced byRafaello Oliveira.[16]
Makdessi knocked outRenée Forte in the first round on September 21, 2013, atUFC 165.[17]
Makdessi lost a unanimous decision toAlan Patrick atUFC 169 on February 1, 2014.[18][19]
Makdessi was expected to faceAbel Trujillo on April 25, 2015, atUFC 186.[20] Trujillo pulled out of the fight citing an injury, and was replaced on April 1 by promotional newcomerShane Campbell.[21] Makdessi won the fight via TKO in the first round.[22]
Less than a month after his win, Makdessi returned to the octagon as a replacement for injuredKhabib Nurmagomedov againstDonald Cerrone on May 23, 2015, atUFC 187.[23] Makdessi lost the fight via TKO after his jaw was broken with a head kick in the second round.[24][25]
Makdessi facedYancy Medeiros on December 12, 2015, atUFC 194.[26] He lost the fight by split decision.[27]
Makdessi next facedMehdi Baghdad on July 7, 2016, atUFC Fight Night 90.[28] He was awarded a split decision victory.[29]
Makdessi facedLando Vannata on December 10, 2016, atUFC 206.[30] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[31]
Makdessi was expected to faceSage Northcutt on July 29, 2017, atUFC 214.[32] In turn, the fight was canceled on July 14 as both fighters cited injuries.[33]
Makdessi facedAbel Trujillo on December 16, 2017, atUFC on Fox 26.[34] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[35]
Makdessi facedRoss Pearson on July 28, 2018, atUFC on Fox 30.[36] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[37] This fight earned him theFight of the Night award.[38]
Makdessi was expected to faceCarlos Diego Ferreira on December 8, 2018, atUFC 231.[39] However, on November 28, 2018, it was reported that Makdessi was removed from the card and replaced byJesse Ronson.[40]
Makdessi was expected to faceNasrat Haqparast on March 23, 2019, atUFC Fight Night 148.[41] However, on March 13, 2019, it was reported that Haqparast was pulled from the bout due to injury and was replaced byJesus Pinedo.[42] Makdessi won the fight via unanimous decision.[43]
Makdessi was scheduled to faceDevonte Smith on August 17, 2019, atUFC 241.[44] However, it was reported on 30 July 2019 that Makdessi was forced to withdraw for undisclosed reason.[45]
Makdessi facedFrancisco Trinaldo on March 14, 2020, atUFC Fight Night 170.[46] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[47]
Makdessi facedIgnacio Bahamondes on April 10, 2021, atUFC on ABC 2.[48] At the weigh-ins, Ignacio Bahamondes weighed in at 156.75 pounds, 0.75 pound over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Bahamondes was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to Makdessi.[49] Makdessi won the bout via split decision.[50]
Makdessi facedNasrat Haqparast on September 3, 2022, atUFC Fight Night 209.[51] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[52]
Makdessi facedJamie Mullarkey on September 10, 2023, atUFC 293.[53] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[54]
In October 2023, Makdessi was released by UFC.[55]
On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Makdessi was signed by Global Fight League.[56] However, in April 2025, it was reported that all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.[57]
Makdessi was scheduled to faceDiego Sanchez in a boxing bout on April 12, 2025 atICS Mania 1.[58] However, the event was cancelled due to unfulfilled contractual obligations.[59]
Makdessi made his professional boxing debut against Felipe Chavez on January 9th, 2026 at Burque Brawl. He won by TKO in the second round.
Makdessi is listed as the president of the MMA apparel brand Fear the Fighter, which has sponsored several MMA and UFC fighters. Since 2014, a number of fighters have come forward with complaints, alleging that Fear the Fighter had failed to pay their respective sponsorship fees.Akira Corassani,Tim Elliott,John Dodson,Georgi Karakhanyan, andGegard Mousasi have publicly made such allegations. In April 2015, Mousasi's management team stated that they had filed a lawsuit against Makdessi and Fear the Fighter due to their alleged failure to pay the outstanding debt owed to Mousasi.[60]
| 27 matches | 18 wins | 9 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 2 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 9 | 6 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 18–9 | Jamie Mullarkey | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 293 | September 10, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Sydney, Australia | |
| Loss | 18–8 | Nasrat Haqparast | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa | September 3, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Paris, France | |
| Win | 18–7 | Ignacio Bahamondes | Decision (split) | UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland | April 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (156.75 lb) bout; Bahamondes missed weight. |
| Loss | 17–7 | Francisco Trinaldo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lee vs. Oliveira | March 14, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Brasília, Brazil | |
| Win | 17–6 | Jesus Pinedo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis | March 23, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 16–6 | Ross Pearson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 | July 28, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 15–6 | Abel Trujillo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Lawler vs. dos Anjos | December 16, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Loss | 14–6 | Lando Vannata | KO (wheel kick) | UFC 206 | December 10, 2016 | 1 | 1:40 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 14–5 | Mehdi Baghdad | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: dos Anjos vs. Alvarez | July 7, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–5 | Yancy Medeiros | Decision (split) | UFC 194 | December 12, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 13–4 | Donald Cerrone | TKO (head kick) | UFC 187 | May 23, 2015 | 2 | 4:44 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 13–3 | Shane Campbell | TKO (punches) | UFC 186 | April 25, 2015 | 1 | 4:53 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Catchweight (160 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 12–3 | Alan Patrick | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 169 | February 1, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
| Win | 12–2 | Renée Forte | KO (punches) | UFC 165 | September 21, 2013 | 1 | 2:01 | Toronto,Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 11–2 | Daron Cruickshank | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 158 | March 16, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 10–2 | Sam Stout | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 154 | November 17, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Loss | 9–2 | Anthony Njokuani | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 145 | April 21, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | Catchweight (158 lb) bout; Makdessi missed weight. |
| Loss | 9–1 | Dennis Hallman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 140 | December 10, 2011 | 1 | 2:58 | Toronto,Ontario, Canada | Catchweight (158.5 lb) bout; Hallman missed weight. |
| Win | 9–0 | Kyle Watson | KO (spinning back fist) | UFC 129 | April 30, 2011 | 3 | 1:27 | Toronto,Ontario, Canada | |
| Win | 8–0 | Pat Audinwood | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 124 | December 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 7–0 | Bendy Casimir | Decision (unanimous) | Mixed Fight League 3 | September 25, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Catchweight (159 lb) bout; Makdessi missed weight. |
| Win | 6–0 | Lindsey Hawkes | TKO (punches) | Canadian Fighting Championship 4 | February 26, 2010 | 2 | 4:59 | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | |
| Win | 5–0 | Brandon McArthur | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Ringside MMA: Rivalry | November 14, 2009 | 1 | 5:00 | Drummondville, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 4–0 | Iraj Hadin | TKO (punches) | Ringside MMA: Rage Fighting | August 22, 2009 | 2 | 4:48 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 3–0 | Amir Uddin | TKO (punches) | XMMA 7: Inferno | February 27, 2009 | 2 | 3:06 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 2–0 | Dan Dechaine | TKO (punches) | XMMA 6: House of Pain | November 8, 2008 | 1 | 1:48 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Win | 1–0 | Todd Westcott | TKO (punches) | XMMA 5: It's Crow Time | September 13, 2008 | 1 | 3:06 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
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