Deron Winn

Deron Winn is an elite-pedigree wrestler whose transition to mixed martial arts showed early flashes of promise before a series of injuries, health setbacks, and losses derailed his UFC career. Born and raised in Liberty, Missouri, Winn compiled a remarkable wrestling resume: three-time state champion with a 163-6 record, NJCAA national junior college champion, and NAIA All-American from Lindenwood University. After narrowly missing the 2016 Olympics wrestling team, he relocated to California to pursue MMA full-time. Winn built a perfect 5-0 record with Bellator MMA between 2017 and 2018, with the majority of his wins coming via first-round knockout, earning him a UFC contract in December 2018.

His UFC debut in June 2019 was a statement, earning him a Fight of the Night honor alongside Eric Spicely in a unanimous decision showcase of his grappling-heavy style. But his octagon run unraveled quickly. A weight miss at UFC on ESPN 6 in October 2019 foreshadowed troubles to come. He was submitted by Gerald Meerschaert in March 2020 and subsequently suspended for nine months after testing positive for amphetamines. Upon his return, he won a decision over Antonio Arroyo in December 2020, but injuries and health issues mounted: he withdrew from fights scheduled with Phil Hawes twice due to separated rib and torn cartilage, and was finally released by the UFC in December 2022 after fainting and falling down stairs at the UFC Performance Institute, sustaining a concussion. His final octagon fight, in June 2022, ended in a second-round TKO loss to Hawes.

Winn has since pivoted to bare-knuckle boxing, earning a TKO victory over Erick Lozano at BKFC 88 in April 2026. His story is one of unrealized potential: a generational grappler whose striking vulnerabilities, injury history, and health complications prevented him from leveraging his wrestling dominance in the UFC. Whether he can find success in bare-knuckle boxing remains an open question.