Maxim Grishin

Maxim Grishin is a 39-year-old Russian light heavyweight striker with a 32-10-2 professional record and a resume built on one explosive skill: knockout power. After turning pro in 2008 and winning a world title with the Akhmat promotion, Grishin joined the UFC in 2020 at an age when most fighters are winding down. He made an immediate statement with a second-round TKO of Gadzhimurad Antigulov, showcasing the hand speed and finishing instinct that have earned him 16 KOs and 16 first-round finishes across his career. Though he fell to Marcin Tybura in his octagon debut, Grishin rebounded with a three-round unanimous decision over William Knight at UFC 271, establishing himself as a credible light heavyweight threat even in his late thirties.

In the octagon, Grishin is a pure striking force. He lands significant strikes at distance with authority, averaging 3.26 landed per minute while maintaining 59% striking defense. His 50% finish rate across 32 wins speaks to his hunting mentality; he is not a wrestler or submissions threat, instead building pressure through power and precision at range. His preferred path is knockout, and his knockout average of 0.43 per 15-minute window reflects that aggression. What he lacks in wrestling (just one takedown landed in UFC) he makes up for in forward momentum and the threat of getting hurt.

A notable blemish came at UFC Fight Night in February 2021 when Grishin missed weight against Dustin Jacoby, coming in at 210.5 pounds, 4.5 pounds over the light heavyweight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight, Grishin was fined 30% of his purse, and Jacoby won a close unanimous decision despite being knocked down twice. That loss and weight miss signaled vulnerability and a respect issue heading into a tough middle phase of his UFC tenure. Still, Grishin has maintained a 9-2-2 record in his last 13 bouts and remains active, drawing opponents who fear his hands and respect his experience. For a casual fan, he is the late-career power striker with nothing to lose and everything to prove.