Andreas Michailidis

Andreas Michailidis is a 34-year-old Greek mixed martial artist with roots in wrestling, kickboxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Born in Kazakhstan and raised in Greece, he has been competing professionally since 2009, earning the EFL Light Heavyweight Championship and multiple European BJJ and kickboxing accolades before signing with the UFC in 2020. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Gracie Barra Greece and trained under high-profile coaches including Antonio McKee and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, blending striking and grappling into a well-rounded attack.

Michailidis made his UFC debut on short notice against Modestas Bukauskas in July 2020, losing via TKO in a first round that drew widespread controversy when the referee stopped the fight due to elbows to the back of the head, sparking debate about whether it should have been ruled a disqualification. Despite the controversial debut, he showed his capability to compete at the elite level with a unanimous decision over KB Bhullar in May 2021, only to face a sharp decline against the promotion's top-tier talent. He suffered a knockout loss to eventual champion Alex Pereira in November 2021 and a lopsided decision defeat to Rinat Fakhretdinov in June 2022, leading to his release from the UFC roster.

Now competing in Oktagon MMA since 2023, Michailidis continues as a welterweight with a striking game centered on kicks and clinch work, complemented by submission grappling skills that include his favorite techniques: leglocks in grappling and kicks on the feet. His career record of 13-6 reflects a fighter who succeeded at regional and European levels but found the transition to the highest tier challenging. His nine first-round finishes and seven knockout victories underscore his aggressive approach, though his experience at welterweight in Oktagon represents a recalibration after his UFC stint.