Chris Gruetzemacher

Chris 'Gritz' Gruetzemacher is a 37-year-old lightweight from Page, Arizona, who turned professional in 2008 and spent years grinding through regional MMA before earning his shot at the UFC in 2015. He was selected for The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber and competed under Urijah Faber's coaching, reaching the quarterfinals before suffering a brutal knockout loss to Artem Lobov. Since his December 2015 UFC debut, Gruetzemacher has compiled a 15-5 record in the world's premier lightweight division, living and training at MMA LAB in Glendale, Arizona, alongside former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. He brings a striking-heavy approach to his fights, landing jabs and power shots at a high volume from standing range, though his takedown defense (66%) remains a persistent weakness against submission-oriented opponents. Over his UFC tenure, he has recorded 7 knockout wins and 3 submission victories, mixing in enough decision wins to keep his record respectable. His career highlight came in April 2018 when he stopped respected veteran Joe Lauzon via corner stoppage in the second round at UFC 223, earning a Performance of the Night bonus and a ranking as the #2 upset of 2018. Since then, Gruetzemacher has struggled against top-15 contenders, suffering losses to grapplers Davi Ramos, Chas Skelly, and Claudio Puelles (via kneebar in his last outing in December 2021), as well as to knockout striker Alexander Hernandez. Now in his late thirties and still active on the UFC roster, Gruetzemacher epitomizes the journeyman lightweight - tough, durable, and willing to stand and trade with anyone, but ultimately stuck in the middle tier of a deep division. His story reflects the resilience required to make it to the sport's highest level after years in the minor leagues.