Andre Soukhamthath

Andre Soukhamthath, 'The Asian Sensation,' is a bantamweight mixed martial artist from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and a historic figure in the UFC as its first fighter of Laotian American descent. Born in 1988, Soukhamthath honed his craft on the regional scene, where he became the CES MMA Bantamweight Champion before earning his UFC contract in early 2017. His octagon debut came at UFC 209 against Albert Morales in a split-decision heartbreaker, but he persevered through early setbacks to notch his first UFC win via second-round TKO over Luke Sanders at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega in December 2017.

A striker through and through, Soukhamthath operates as a pressure fighter who relies on high-volume significant striking and knockout power. His finishing statistics tell the story: 62% of his victories come by KO/TKO, and he lands 2.77 significant strikes per minute while maintaining a solid 50% striking defense. He is not a grappler, with minimal takedown attempts, preferring to stay on the feet and hunt for the finish with his hands.

Soukhamthath's most memorable UFC moment came at UFC 222 in March 2018 against rising prospect Sean O'Malley, when he earned a Fight of the Night bonus despite a unanimous decision loss. That fight exemplified his appeal: he brought an exciting, all-action striking approach against top-tier competition. Over his UFC run from 2017 to 2019, he compiled a 2-6 record in the promotion, mixing losses by decision with the occasional impressive finish. After his release in August 2019, he competed in regional promotions including XFC and CES MMA before retiring from active competition in March 2022.

Representing a rare demographic in professional fighting and carrying the pride of his New England roots and immigrant family heritage, Soukhamthath remains a respected figure in combat sports for his technical striking, heavy hands, and journey from regional champion to the UFC stage.