Da'Mon Blackshear

Da'Mon Blackshear is a 30-year-old bantamweight who arrived in the UFC as a proven regional champion, holding two CFFC titles after a decade fighting across smaller promotions. The Monster earned his nickname by wrestling his way into the cage since childhood, turning professional in 2016 and building a 17-8-1 record on the back of relentless grappling and an elite submission arsenal. In August 2022, he made his UFC debut against Youssef Zalal at age 30, marking the start of a grind through the division's middle tier.

Blackshear's calling card is his bottom game and submission acumen. With 11 UFC wins by submission and only 2 by knockout, he operates as a grappler first, landing his heaviest damage off his back and hunting for finishes. His most notable submission was a twister victory over Jose Johnson in 2023, becoming only the third fighter in UFC history to secure that rare finish. He earned his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and demonstrates technical variety: rear-naked chokes, triangles, armbars, kimunas, and guillotines populate his finish record. However, his striking defense sits at 52%, and he averages under 5 significant strikes per minute, meaning opponents who dictate pace and apply pressure can frustrate his game.

Throughout his UFC tenure, Blackshear has bounced between streaks. He notched three consecutive wins in late 2024 and early 2025, including impressive submission finishes over Cody Stamann and Cody Gibson, only to lose a disputed unanimous decision to Mario Bautista at UFC 292 where media outlets favored Blackshear 10-5. Most recently, in July 2025, he faced veteran Davey Grant at UFC Abu Dhabi and suffered a unanimous decision loss to the British fighter's suffocating pressure and body work. With a record of 17-8-1, Blackshear remains a credible middling contender whose submission skills and fighting spirit keep him relevant, but whose vulnerability to pressure strikers and tendency toward decision losses define the ceiling of his run in the UFC.