Billy Elekana

Billy Elekana, nicknamed 'Son of Susie,' is a 30-year-old Light Heavyweight who embodies the kind of redemption story that fights are built on. Born in Victorville and of Samoan descent, Elekana was working construction when a stabbing at 17 changed the course of his life. While recovering in a hospital, he made a decision: he would become an MMA fighter. That commitment has defined him ever since. He turned pro in 2021 and spent nearly four years grinding through regional promotions (LFA, PFL, Lights Out Xtreme Fighting), building a 6-1 record before earning his UFC call at UFC 311 in January 2025, when Bogdan Guskov's original opponent withdrew. Elekana took the fight on one week's notice and lost via guillotine submission, but that loss didn't break him. It clarified where he stood.

Since that baptism, Elekana has strung together three straight wins that have quietly announced his presence in the light heavyweight division. He outpointed Ibo Aslan via unanimous decision at UFC on ABC in July 2025, then submitted Kevin Christian with a rear-naked choke in just over three minutes at UFC Fight Night in November 2025. Most recently, he tapped Junior Tafa with another rear-naked choke at UFC 325 in early 2026. His record inside the octagon now sits at 3-1, and his overall tally is 10-2.

Elekana fights as a submission-heavy grappler anchored by a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Marcelo Nunes. He lands most of his significant strikes at distance (81% standing) and is careful with his defense, but where he truly shines is on the mat, where he hunts finishes with patience and technique. With four first-round finishes and three wins by submission overall, he is a dangerous assignment for anyone climbing the 205-pound ranks. What sets him apart from the typical prospect, though, is his story: a man who came back from the edge, who trains at Porrada Training Center and Uprising MMA, who fights to give everything to the family he built. At 10-2 and active, Elekana remains a tough, grounded veteran who represents not just himself but his Samoan heritage and the three children waiting for him to come home.