Trevin Giles

Trevin Giles is a 32-year-old welterweight with a 16-7-0 record who represents one of MMA's most compelling dual-career stories: a well-rounded mixed martial artist who stepped away from the sport in 2018 to serve as a police officer in Houston, Texas, before returning to active competition. Born in San Antonio and starting martial arts training at age 20, Giles built an impressive early record fighting across the Texas circuit and legacy promotions before making his UFC debut in 2017 with consecutive knockout victories over James Bochnovic and Antônio Braga Neto. He earned his first and only Fight of the Night bonus in February 2020 for a back-and-forth split decision win over James Krause at UFC 247, a performance that showcased his ability to compete at the highest level.

Giles fights as a balanced striker and submission specialist, landing the bulk of his significant strikes from distance (76%) while maintaining solid defensive metrics. His finishing arsenal spans six UFC knockouts and five submissions, including arm triangles, rear-naked chokes, and deft guillotine defenses. However, his career trajectory has been inconsistent since 2019, marked by a series of quick losses to submission specialists like Zak Cummings, Gerald Meerschaert, and Gabriel Bonfim, interspersed with decision wins that kept him in the UFC picture. A brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a preference for the arm triangle, Giles displays technical grappling prowess but has struggled against opponents who matched his submission skills or brought superior striking power.

Giles' recent tenure in the UFC ended on a downswing. After knockout losses to Dricus du Plessis (2021) and Carlos Prates (2024), a quick submission loss to Gabriel Bonfim at UFC 291 (2023), and scattered decision wins, he entered 2024 on unstable footing. His last UFC fight came in November 2024, a unanimous decision loss to Mike Malott, setting the stage for his release from the roster in July 2025 after a three-fight losing streak. In May 2025, Giles was scheduled to step in on short notice against debuting Andreas Gustafsson but suffered a head injury during weight-cutting that forced the cancellation, ultimately leading to his exit from the promotion. Despite his current status outside the UFC, Giles' story remains one of athletic ambition across two demanding professions and a grappling skill set that produced memorable submissions throughout his career.