Victor Henry

Victor Westley Henry, 'La Mongosta', is a 37-year-old bantamweight who has spent 15 years building one of the most unconventional and globally diverse records in modern MMA. Born in Southgate, California, Henry discovered martial arts as a way to channel youthful energy and progressed from a taekwondo black belt to Brazilian jiu-jitsu and, uniquely, competitive catch wrestling - a discipline he pursued seriously enough to win the 2021 King of Catch tournament across his weight class and openweight divisions. For over a decade he competed in Japan (Pancrase, RIZIN, DEEP), Russia, and independent North American promotions, collecting regional titles and establishing himself as a submission virtuoso before joining the UFC in January 2022 at age 34.

In the octagon, Henry has posted a 6-2 record (25-7 overall) that reflects his evolution as a finisher. His striking statistics reveal a high-volume stand-up game - 82% of his significant strikes land from distance - but his reputation and fight-ending ability rest on submissions and knockdowns. He has recorded 7 KO/TKO victories and 8 submission wins in his professional career, with 5 first-round finishes in the UFC alone, demonstrating that he does not rely on decision-grinding. His most recent outing against Pedro Falcao in April 2025 was a unanimous decision victory, marking his return to form after a second-round guillotine loss to Charles Jourdain last November, which was notably his first career finish loss.

Henry's fighting style blends catch wrestling precision with modern MMA pressure and volume. He hunts submissions from guard work and back control, lands consistent knockdowns, and controls the pace of fights through aggressive, high-volume striking that sets up grappling opportunities. His late-career ascent to the UFC and proven ability to finish elite competition make him an appealing underdog for fans who value technical mastery and relentless improvement over hype. Balancing a bartending career with elite-level training at California Mixed Martial Arts under respected catch wrestling coach Josh Barnett, Henry represents a fighter built through decades of mat time and real competition rather than a packaged prospect.

With a 25-7 record, multiple regional titles, undefeated runs in RIZIN and Russia, and a black belt credentials in three distinct martial arts disciplines, Henry has earned respect across the global fight community. At 37 and still active in the UFC, he remains a dangerous finisher who consistently demonstrates why he is not a typical late-career addition to the roster.