Andre Fialho

André Fialho is a Portuguese mixed martial artist born April 7, 1994, who grew up learning boxing from his father before discovering MMA at 18. He left school to pursue the sport and immigrated to the United States in 2015, determined to reach the UFC. After building a strong regional record in Bellator, the PFL, and UAE Warriors (where he won a championship), Fialho made his UFC debut on short notice against Michel Pereira in January 2022, losing by unanimous decision. He quickly rebounded with two consecutive first-round knockouts over Miguel Baeza and Cameron VanCamp, earning back-to-back Performance of the Night bonuses and announcing himself as a serious striking threat.

Fialho is an aggressive, high-volume boxer who relies on hand speed and power to overwhelm opponents from range and in the clinch. His statistics speak to his finishing ability: 13 of his 16 career wins have come by knockout or TKO, and 12 of those finishes landed in the first round. He lands significant strikes at a high rate, though his defensive gaps and modest takedown defense have exposed him when facing well-rounded competition.

Unfortunately, after those early wins, Fialho encountered a stretch of top-tier welterweight strikers he couldn't overcome. He lost four of his final five UFC fights, falling to Jake Matthews, Muslim Salikhov, Joaquin Buckley, and Tim Means, the last of which was a gritty third-round war that earned Fight of the Night honors. The UFC released him in October 2023. Still active and only 29, Fialho remains a genuine knockout threat whenever he competes, though his profile has shifted from rising prospect to veteran seeking redemption outside the biggest stages.