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Brian Kelleher

American mixed martial arts fighter From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Brian Matthew Kelleher[3] (born August 19, 1986) is an American former professional mixed martial artist. Kelleher competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor from 2011 to 2025, Kelleher has also competed for Bellator and CES MMA.

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Background

Kelleher was born on August 19, 1986, in Selden, New York, the son of Matt and Jen Kelleher.[4] Kelleher has an older brother Keith and a younger brother Mak who is also a professional mixed martial artist.[5][4] Kelleher competed in a variety of sports from a young age including ice hockey, soccer and bowling. He later began combat sport training in 2007.[6]

Mixed martial arts career

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Ultimate Fighting Championship

Kelleher made his promotional debut against Iuri Alcântara on short notice at UFC 212 on June 3, 2017.[7] He won the fight via submission due to a guillotine choke in the first round and was awarded a Performance of the Night bonus.[8]

Kelleher next faced Marlon Vera on July 22, 2017, at UFC on Fox 25. He lost the fight via armbar submission in the first round.[9][10]

Kelleher faced Damian Stasiak on October 21, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 118.[11] He won the fight via technical knockout in the third round.[12] This win earned him the Fight of the Night award.[13]

Kelleher faced Renan Barão on February 24, 2018, at UFC on Fox 28.[14] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[15]

Kelleher faced John Lineker on May 12, 2018, at UFC 224.[16] He lost the fight via knockout in the third round.[17]

Kelleher was originally scheduled to face Domingo Pilarte on November 3, 2018, at UFC 230.[18] Pilarte was forced to withdraw from the bout, citing an injury, and Kelleher is now slated to face Montel Jackson.[19] At the weigh-ins, Kelleher weight at 137 pounds, 1 pound over the bantamweight non-title fight limit of 136. He was fined 20 percent of his purse, which went to his opponent Jackson.[20] On November 3, it was reported that Kelleher withdrew from the bout due to illness and thus the fight was cancelled.[21] The pairing was left intact and rescheduled for December 29, 2018, at UFC 232.[22] At the weigh-ins, Jackson weighed in at 137 lbs, 1 pound over the non-title fight bantamweight limit of 136 lbs. Jackson was fined 20 percent of his purse to Kelleher and the fight proceeded at catchweight.[23] Kelleher lost the fight via submission in the first round.[24]

Kelleher was scheduled to face Mitch Gagnon on May 4, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 150.[25] However, Kelleher pulled out of the fight on April 10, citing an injury, and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Cole Smith.[26]

As the last fight of his prevailing contract, Kelleher faced Ode' Osbourne at UFC 246 on January 18, 2020.[27][28] He won the fight via a submission in the first round.[29] This win earned him a Performance of the Night award.[30]

After negotiating a new contract, Kelleher faced Hunter Azure in a featherweight contest on May 13, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira.[31] He won the fight via knockout in round two.[32] This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.[33]

Kelleher faced Cody Stamann on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250.[34] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[35]

Kelleher was scheduled to face Ricky Simón on September 5, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 176.[36] However, Simón's cornerman tested positive for COVID-19 and he was forced to withdraw from the event,[37] and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Kevin Natividad.[38] In turn, Natividad was pulled from the matchup on the day of the event due to undisclosed reasons, and he was replaced by fellow newcomer Ray Rodriguez, who weighed in as a backup.[39] Kelleher won the fight via a guillotine choke in round one.[40] This win earned him a Performance of the Night award.[41]

The bout against Simón was rescheduled on January 16, 2021, at UFC on ABC 1.[42] However, Kelleher also tested positive on January 1 and was pulled from the bout.[43] He was replaced by newcomer Gaetano Pirello and the bout will take place four days later at UFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny.[44]

The bout between Kelleher and Ricky Simón was rebooked for the third time and took place at UFC 258 on February 13, 2021.[45] Kelleher lost the fight via unanimous decision.[46]

Kelleher faced Domingo Pilarte on August 21, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum.[47] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[48]

Kelleher was scheduled to face Saidyokub Kakhramonov on January 15, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 32.[49] However, Kakhramonov withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reason and he was replaced by Kevin Croom.[50] He won the fight via unanimous decision after knocking Croom down once in the first round.[51]

As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Kelleher faced Umar Nurmagomedov on March 5, 2022, at UFC 272.[52] He lost the fight via a rear naked choke in round one.[53]

Kelleher faced Mario Bautista on June 25, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 38.[54] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[55]

Kelleher was scheduled to face Journey Newson on April 29, 2023, at UFC on ESPN: Song vs. Simón.[56] However, Kelleher pulled out of his bantamweight bout against Journey Newson. He was replaced by Marcus McGhee.[57]

Kelleher faced former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt on December 16, 2023 at UFC 296.[58] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[59]

Kelleher faced Cody Gibson on July 20, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 60.[60] He lost the fight by an arm-triangle choke submission in the first round.[61]

On October 9, 2024, it was reported that Kelleher was removed from the UFC roster.[62]

On February 26, 2025, it was announced that Kelleher had retired from MMA competition.[63]

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Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
40 matches 24 wins 16 losses
By knockout 8 2
By submission 10 9
By decision 6 5
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[66]

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See also

References

External links

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