John Phillips

John Phillips is a Welsh fighter born in 1985 who has built a career spanning over two decades across European MMA promotions and now bare-knuckle boxing. After turning pro in 2005, he competed in BAMMA, Cage Rage, and Cage Warriors, eventually winning the BAMMA Middleweight Championship. His journey to the UFC began in 2018, where he faced an immediate gauntlet: losses to Charles Byrd and Kevin Holland followed by a split decision defeat to fellow Welshman Jack Marshman left him searching for answers. The turning point came on 28 September 2019 when Phillips faced Alen Amedovski at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Cannonier. In just 17 seconds, he exploded with a knockout that earned him a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus and proved he belonged at the top level. That momentum evaporated when he was matched with rising prospect Khamzat Chimaev as a replacement opponent in July 2020; Chimaev submitted him in the second round via D'Arce choke, foreshadowing Chimaev's rise as a future title contender. Phillips was released from the UFC in November 2020 after a loss to Jun Yong Park and stepped away from the octagon.

Phillips has since discovered a second life in bare-knuckle boxing with the BKFC. He made his debut in April 2025 against Fábio Maldonado in Dubai, finishing his opponent in the second round with a knockout. He carried that momentum into May 2026 when he faced Peter Barrett at BKFC 90 Birmingham, again recording a first-round knockout. As a middleweight turned bare-knuckle fighter, Phillips brings the striking power and finishing instinct that made him dangerous in the UFC, but now in a sport that rewards his natural aggression and hand speed. In post-fight interviews, he has called out bigger names in the BKFC middleweight division, including Darren Till, his fellow Welshman and former title challenger, suggesting there is still hunger and belief in a fighter once written off by the UFC. Whether Phillips can sustain this momentum and become a legitimate BKFC contender remains to be seen, but his knockout streak shows he has found a format that suits his talents.