Hyder Amil

Hyder Amil is a 35-year-old featherweight striker from Cebu City, Philippines, who was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and spent six years working as a striking coach at Gilbert Melendez's El Nino Training Center before finally committing full-time to his own fighting career. After compiling a 7-0 record in Bellator and Legacy Fighting Alliance while juggling gym duties and construction work, Amil earned a UFC contract through Dana White's Contender Series in August 2023 with a unanimous decision over Emrah Sonmez. His UFC debut in February 2024 was electric: he scored a second-round knockout of Fernie Garcia after two replacement opponents withdrew. Amil followed that with a stunning first-round technical knockout of JeongYeong Lee in July 2024 that earned him a Performance of the Night bonus, establishing him as a featherweight prospect with real finishing power.

Amil is a complete striker built on muay thai fundamentals, known for throwing long, aggressive punch combinations with crisp footwork and excellent power. He works the body as well as the head and slips opponents' strikes cleanly in the pocket while switching stances effortlessly. His wrestling defense is average, and he can be vulnerable to takedowns, but he is active off his back and sharp enough to attempt takedowns of his own against pure strikers. When allowed to dictate the pace and range, he is a match for most featherweights in the division. His ground game includes a purple belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Amil's promising start took a brutal detour in June 2025 when Jose Miguel Delgado caught him with a perfectly-timed knee to the chin at UFC 317, knocking him out cold in just 26 seconds. The loss raised questions about whether Amil's reflexes were slipping at 35 or whether it was simply a bad night in a high-variance sport. He answered that question in November 2025 with a composed, three-round unanimous decision victory over Jamall Emmers, suggesting the Delgado disaster was an aberration rather than evidence of decline. Amil is scheduled to face Christian Rodriguez in June 2026 as he continues to build his UFC resume in a deep featherweight division. His story, from childhood trauma and part-time gym life to late-career success, combined with his flashy striking and finishing power, makes him an appealing undercard draw.