Don'tale Mayes

Don'tale Mayes is a heavyweight knockout artist from Louisville, Kentucky, who came up through judo (claiming state titles in Kansas and Indiana) before turning pro in MMA. He went undefeated as an amateur at 8-0, then earned his UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series, taking two attempts to secure the deal. His UFC tenure has been a study in contrasts: a devastating striker with 7 knockout wins who is also vulnerable to elite grappling. Mayes debuted against rising prospect Ciryl Gane in October 2019 and was submitted via heel hook in the third round, setting a troubling pattern. His best moment came in June 2023 when he stopped Hall of Famer Andrei Arlovski via second-round TKO, showcasing the explosive power that makes him dangerous. However, decision losses to legitimate top-15 heavyweights (Augusto Sakai, Rodrigo Nascimento, Shamil Gaziev) and recent rapid submissions (Valter Walker via heel hook in just 1:17) have left him treading water in a competitive division.

Fighting from Jackson Wink MMA Academy in New Mexico, Mayes is a straightforward pressure boxer who lands 3.22 significant strikes per minute and possesses genuine one-punch knockout power. Seven of his 11 wins are by TKO, and he has a first-round finish rate that keeps opponents honest. The trade-off is a nearly even striking exchange rate (absorbing 3.61 significant strikes per minute) and a critical weakness on the ground: zero submission wins in his career, 47% takedown defense, and a recurring vulnerability to submission specialists. Against Gane, Nascimento twice, and Walker, elite grapplers have exploited this gap, often ending fights decisively in the first two rounds.

As of May 2025, Mayes was released by the UFC after losing consecutive bouts to Valter Walker and Thomas Petersen. His 11-9 record and reputation as a gatekeeper who can hurt anyone at heavyweight but struggles with top-tier technique and wrestling makes him a high-ceiling, low-floor prospect. For casual fans, he offers an pure display of heavyweight violence; for serious MMA students, he is a cautionary tale about the limits of raw power when grappling defense is left undeveloped.