Daniel Argueta

Daniel 'The Determined' Argueta is a 31-year-old UFC bantamweight riding a reputation as one of the division's most explosive finishers. After turning pro in 2019 and building his credentials in the LFA, where he captured the bantamweight title, Argueta earned his UFC contract as Brian Ortega's first pick on The Ultimate Fighter Season 29. Since his octagon debut in June 2022, the American grappler has compiled a 4-3 record punctuated by two no-contests, and those numbers mask his true calling: finishing fights early and often.

Argueta is a submission specialist first and foremost. Of his nine professional wins, four have come by submission, with three of those being rear-naked chokes from various positions and one armbar. Two additional wins have come by knockout. Perhaps most striking is the consistency of his finish rate: five of his nine victories ended in the first round, a testament to either the devastating accuracy of his ground transitions or opponents caught unprepared for his grappling pressure. His striking, while competent, is secondary; he lands just 2.48 significant strikes per minute and works best from the clinch or once a scramble has put him in position to hunt the back or hunt an armlock.

Recent results have tempered some early promise. A submission loss to Jean Matsumoto in April 2024 and a decision loss to Cody Haddon in October 2024 suggest that as opponents game-plan for his submission threat, Argueta's ability to impose his will over three rounds remains a work in progress. Nevertheless, his track record of rapid finishes and his hand-picked status by Ortega position him as a prospect with real finishing tools. For fans who love submission grappling and quick finishes, Argueta is a must-watch name in the growing pool of UFC bantamweight talent.