Julio Arce

Julio Arce is a 35-year-old featherweight journeyman whose unlikely path to the UFC began at age fourteen in Queens, New York, when he joined Team Tiger Schulmann's combat gym to shed excess weight. He went on to win the 2011 New York Golden Gloves boxing championship before transitioning to professional MMA in 2012. Arce compiled an 8-1 record in Ring of Combat, where he won both the bantamweight and featherweight titles with multiple successful defenses, before earning a late-notice UFC contract in January 2018 to replace an injured Charles Rosa. Over six years in the UFC, Arce fought 16 times and posted a 6-10 record, mixing solid wins over Dan Ige, Daniel Teymur, Julian Erosa (a striking showcase finished by head kick), Andre Ewell, and Herbert Burns with losses to stronger prospects and established veterans. Most notably, Arce holds the UFC record for takedown defense at 96.2 percent, a testament to his wrestling fundamentals and cage awareness.

Arce's style is that of a gritty, pressure-forward grappler with heavy hands and solid clinch work. His strength lies in his ability to nullify takedowns and control opponents on the mat, but his striking consistency and output in striking exchanges remain inconsistent at the highest level. He has shown flashes of finishing power (notably his second-round knockout of Burns in March 2024) but also suffered notable defeats to rising strikers like Song Yadong (TKO, R2) and solid competitors like Montel Jackson (UD) and Hakeem Dawodu (split decision).

Arce's UFC tenure ended on a frustrating note. After his knockout of Burns in March 2024, which came despite missing weight at catchweight, Arce found himself in a seven-to-eight month limbo with no clear communication from the promotion about his future. He was not offered a new contract and eventually parted ways with the UFC. Arce then fought on the independent scene before signing with the PFL in March 2026, where he made his debut against undefeated featherweight prospect Alexei Pergande at PFL Pittsburgh. A self-described simple, humble fighter who credits his team and his gym instructorship at Tiger Schulmann's Bayside with keeping him grounded, Arce remains driven to climb the featherweight ranks and earn a title shot in his new promotion.