Kurt Holobaugh (born September 8, 1986) is an American professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

(MMA) who competes in the

Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing (sport), rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) boxing weight classes, weight class in the spor ...

division in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

(UFC).

Mixed martial arts

Early career

Holobaugh compiled an amateur record of 3-0 before making his professional MMA debut in March 2011. Over the next year-and-a-half, he amassed an undefeated record of 9 wins and no losses, with all but one of his wins coming by stoppage before the final bell.

Strikeforce and Ultimate Fighting Championship

In 2013, Holobaugh joined the

Strikeforce Strike Force may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Games *Strike Force (video game), ''Strike Force'' (video game), a 1991 arcade game *''Commandos: Strike Force'', a 2006 video game *''Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce'', a 2009 video game *' ...

organization. He made his debut against Pat Healy at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine on January 12, 2013. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Following the Strikeforce event, the organization was folded and merged with the

. Holobaugh's contract was honored and he made his UFC debut against

Steven Siler Steven Siler (born February 15, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League. A professional competitor since 2005, he has competed for the UFC, Titan FC, Tachi ...

UFC 159 ''UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen'' was a mixed martial arts event held on April 27, 2013, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Background Jimy Hettes was expected to face Steven Siler at the event; however, Hettes was forced out of the bou ...

on April 27, 2013. He lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released by the promotion.

Post UFC career

After his UFC release, Holobaugh fought for various independent MMA promotions. He found the most success in

Titan Fighting Championships Titan Fighting Championship (Titan FC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion based out of Pompano Beach, Florida. Their shows were originally run in and near Kansas City and have since expanded to include venues all over North America and e ...

, where he compiled a record of 5-1 within the promotion, and held both the Featherweight Championship and Interim Lightweight Championship.

Second UFC stint

Holobaugh would then be invited to compete in the main event of the inaugural edition of

Dana White's Contender Series Dana White's Contender Series, formerly named Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, is an American mixed martial arts promotion. In May 2017, the UFC announced White would hold the competition weekly on UFC Fight Pass (It has since been mov ...

, facing

Bellator Bellator, warrior in Latin, may refer to: * Bellator MMA, a mixed martial arts promotion based in the United States * Bishop Bellator of Sufetula (5th century) Taxonomy * ''Bellator'' (fish), a fish genus in the family Triglidae (sea robins) ** ...

veteran

Matt Bessette Matthew James Bessette (born December 28, 1984) is a retired American Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist. A professional competitor since 2007, he has also competed for Bellator MMA, Bellator and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Backgr ...

. Holobaugh won the fight via knockout in round one, securing a UFC contract. He faced

Raoni Barcelos Raoni Mendonca Barcelos (born May 1, 1987) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist, former amateur wrestler and grappler. He currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Prior to signing w ...

at UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov and lost via knockout in the third round. Despite the loss, the win earned Holobaugh his first ''Fight of the Night'' bonus award. Holobaugh next faced

Shane Burgos Shane Burgos (born March 19, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division. Burgos previously competed for Cage Fury Fighting Championships, Professional Fighters League (PFL), and the ...

UFC 230 ''UFC 230: Cormier vs. Lewis'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on November 3, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Background A UFC Heavyweight Championship bou ...

on November 3, 2018. He lost the fight via submission in the first round. Holobaugh faced

Thiago Moisés Thiago Moisés (born 23 March 1995) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2012. He Previously competed for the promotions RFA and LFA. B ...

on May 11, 2019

UFC 237 ''UFC 237: Namajunas vs. Andrade'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on May 11, 2019, at Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Background The event was originally expected to be held ...

. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Holobaugh was released by the UFC in December 2019.

Post UFC

Holobaugh faced Joziro Boye at XFC 43 on November 11, 2020. He won the bout via first round TKO. As the semifinal of XFC Lightweight tournament Holobaugh was initially scheduled to face Scott Hudson at XFC 44 on May 28, 2021. However, Hudson withdrew and was replaced by Jose Luis Verdugo. He won the bout via KO at the beginning of the second round and advanced to the final.

The Ultimate Fighter 31

In March 2023, it was announced that Holobaugh would be competing in the thirty-first season of

The Ultimate Fighter ''The Ultimate Fighter'' is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Pilgrim Media Group currently airing on ESPN+. It previously aired for fourteen s ...

. In the quarterfinal Holobaugh faced team McGregor's number 1 ranked lightweight prospect Lee Hammond, who is also a training partner to McGregor at his gym in Ireland. After being behind for the majority of the fight, Holobaugh managed to win the fight via guillotine choke submission late in the second round. In the semi-final, Holobaugh defeated teammate Jason Knight via TKO in the second round. Holobaugh faced former LFA Lightweight Champion and fellow teammate Austin Hubbard in the tournament final on August 19, 2023 at UFC 292. He won the fight via a triangle choke submission in the second round to become TUF 31 lightweight winner.

Return to UFC

Holobaugh faced Trey Ogden on March 23, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 53. He lost the bout by unanimous decision. Holobaugh faced Kaynan Kruschewsky on July 20, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 60. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Holobaugh faced

Alexander Hernandez Alexander Xavier Hernandez (born October 1, 1992) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Hernandez began wrestling at the age of 13 and started train ...

on March 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 254. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Holobaugh faced Jordan Leavitt on May 31, 2025 at

UFC on ESPN 68 ''UFC on ESPN: Gamrot vs. Klein'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 68'' and ''UFC Vegas 107'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 31, 2025, at the UFC Apex in Enterprise, Nevada, part ...

. He lost the fight via an anaconda choke submission in the first round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

** The Ultimate Fighter 31 Lightweight Tournament Winner ** Fight of the Night (one time) * Titan Fighting Championship ** Titan FC Featherweight Championship (One time) ** Interim Titan FC Lightweight Championship (One time) *

Xtreme Fighting Championships Xtreme Fighting Championships (XFC) is a premier international mixed martial arts (MMA) organization based in Spring Lake, Michigan, with offices throughout the United States and South America. The XFC showcases both male and female fighters, ad ...

**XFC Louisiana Featherweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

, Loss , align=center, , Jordan Leavitt , Technical Submission (anaconda choke) , UFC on ESPN: Gamrot vs. Klein , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:39 ,

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Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

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Gesias Cavalcante Gesias Cavalcante (born July 6, 1983) is a Brazilian professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division. He was the 2006 and 2007 K-1 HERO Middleweight Champion, and has also fought for Strikeforce, DREAM, Shooto, W ...

, TKO (punches) , Titan FC 44 , , align=center, 4 , align=center, 2:45 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 16–4 , Yosdenis Cedeno , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Titan FC 42 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 1:22 ,

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Magomedrasul Khasbulaev Magomedrasul Magomedalievich Khasbulaev (; born October 23, 1986) is a Russian former mixed martial artist who fought in the Featherweight division. In a career spanning 12 years, Khasbulaev fought in Bellator MMA, where he won the Bell ...

, Decision (unanimous) , WFCA 16 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, Russia , , - , Loss , align=center, 14–3 , Andre Harrison , Decision (unanimous) , Titan FC 34 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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Desmond Green Desmond Green (born October 11, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division for Ultimate Fighting Championship. Green is a bare-knuckle boxer for BYB Extreme Fighting Series, where he is the current BYB ...

, Decision (split) , Titan FC 33 , , align=center, 5 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 13–2 , Lloyd Woodard , TKO (punches) , Titan FC 29 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:15 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–2 , Calvin Miller , Submission (rear naked choke) , XFC: Louisiana , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:10 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 10–2 , John LeBlanc , Submission , In Ya Face: Caged Warrior 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:13 ,

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, United States , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–1 , Pat Healy , Decision (unanimous) , Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 9–0 , Wesley Dunlap , KO (punch) , Fight Force International: Blood and Sand 13 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:21 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–0 , Wellington Brito , TKO (punches) , XFC: Natural Disaster 3 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:31 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 , Ronnie Rogers , Submission (rear naked choke) , Fight Force International: Blood and Sand 12 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:15 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Will Cruthirds , Submission (rear naked choke) , Fight Force International: Blood and Sand 11 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:55 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , J.C. Pennington , Submission (triangle choke) , XFC: Chaos at the Castine Center 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 3:12 ,

Mandeville, Louisiana Mandeville is a city in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 13,192. Mandeville is located on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, south of Interstate 12. It is located direct ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Booker Arthur , Decision (unanimous) , XFC: Nightmare on the Northshore , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Paul Soileau , Submission (guillotine choke) , Felix's FC: Night of Champions 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:32 ,

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, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Phil Daru , Submission (armbar) , XFC: Chaos at the Castine Center , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:55 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Derrick Breaux , Submission , In Ya Face: Karnival Karnage , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:39 ,

, United States ,

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

, Win , align=center, 2–0 , Jason Knight , TKO (punches) , rowspan=2, The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler , (airdate) , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:56 , rowspan=2,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Lee Hammond , Submission (guillotine choke) , (airdate) , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:21 ,

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Holobaugh, Kurt 1986 births Living people American male mixed martial artists Featherweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Mixed martial artists from Louisiana Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu 21st-century American sportsmen People from Livingston Parish, Louisiana