Landon Anthony Vannata (born March 14, 1992) 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 ...

who currently competes in the featherweight division of 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 ( ...

. A professional competitor since 2012, he has formerly competed for the

RFA RFA may refer to: Groups, organizations * Radio Free Asia, a private news broadcaster and publisher in East Asia, funded in part by the U.S. government * Renewable Fuels Agency, a former UK renewable fuel regulatory agency * Renewable Fuels A ...

and

Pancrase is a Japanese mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Tokyo. It was founded in 1993 by professional wrestlers Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki. The name was based on pankration, a fighting sport in the An ...

Early years

Vannata was born in

Neptune Neptune is the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun. It is the List of Solar System objects by size, fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 t ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

and at the age of 13, began

wrestling Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...

and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Vannata later wrestled at an NCAA Division I

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UT Chattanooga, UTC, or Chattanooga) is a public university in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1886 and is part of the University of Tennessee System. History UTC was founde ...

, but dropped out after one semester. After dropping out, he left for

Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

, to join JacksonWink Academy

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Vannata made his professional MMA debut in May 2012. He amassed an undefeated record of 8–0 in various promotions over the next four years before joining the UFC.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

After an injury to

Michael Chiesa Michael Keith Chiesa (; born December 7, 1987) is an American professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and sports analyst who currently competes in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship ( ...

, Vannata was called on two weeks' notice to fight against ranked #3 lightweight

Tony Ferguson Anthony Armand Ferguson Padilla (born February 12, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist where he is a former Interim UFC Lightweight Champion. A professional since 2008, and was signed to the UFC from his '' The Ultimate Fi ...

on July 16, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 91. After an exciting back-and-forth fight, and almost finishing Ferguson with strikes in the first round he lost by submission in the second round. Both participants were awarded a ''Fight of the Night'' bonus. Vannata faced

John Makdessi John Makdessi (born May 3, 1985) is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Makdessi was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on May 3, ...

on December 10, 2016, at UFC 206 He won the fight via highlight reel spinning heel kick knockout in the first round and was awarded a ''Performance of the Night'' bonus. Vannata faced David Teymur on March 4, 2017, at UFC 209. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. The fight was awarded ''Fight of the Night'' honors. Vannata was expected to face Abel Trujillo on October 7, 2017, at UFC 216. However, Trujillo was removed from the card on August 14 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by

Bobby Green King Green (born Bobby Ray Green; September 9, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2008, Green is the former ...

. Vannata struck Green with a knee while Green was a grounded opponent, which caused referee Herb Dean to deduct one point from Vannata. The judges handed down a split draw after three rounds with score of 29-27-27-29 and 28-28. This fight earned him Fight of the Night award. Vannata was linked to a fight with

Gilbert Burns Gilbert Alexander Pontes Burns (born 20 July 1986) is a Brazilian professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist and Submission grappling, submission grappler. He currently competes in the Welterweight (MMA), Welterweight division of th ...

on April 14, 2018, at

UFC on Fox 29 ''UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje'' (also known as ''UFC on FOX 29'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that was held on April 14, 2018, at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona. Background After pr ...

. However, the pairing never materialized as Vannata was unable to accept the fight for this date/event as he was still rehabilitating a recent arm injury. Vannata faced Drakkar Klose on July 7, 2018, at UFC 226. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. After the fight with Klose, Vannata departed from Jackson Wink MMA Academy in the heels of

Donald Cerrone Donald Anthony Cerrone (born March 29, 1983), known professionally by his nickname "Cowboy", is an American former professional mixed martial artist, kickboxer, and actor. He competed in the Lightweight and Welterweight divisions of the Ultima ...

's departure. Due to the departure, Vannata begun training at both Cerrone's BMF Ranch and Jackson's MMA Association Gym. Vannata faced

Matt Frevola Matthew Kenneth Frevola (born June 11, 1990) is an American professional mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2014, he has also competed for the Wor ...

on November 3, 2018, at UFC 230. The bout ended in a majority draw. Shortly after the fight, Vannata announced that he became a free agent. In the beginning of 2019, Vannata announced that he had signed a new, four-fight contract with the UFC. Vannata faced promotional newcomer Marcos Rosa Mariano on February 10, 2019, at UFC 234. He won the fight via a submission in round one. Vannata faced Marc Diakiese on September 28, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 160. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Vannata faced Yancy Medeiros on February 15, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 167. He won the fight via unanimous decision. A rematch with

took place on August 1, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned him the '' Fight of the Night'' award. Vannata moved down to featherweight and faced Mike Grundy at

UFC 262 ''UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 15, 2021 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, United States. Background A UFC Lightweight Championship ...

on May 15, 2021. He won his 145 lb debut via split decision. Vannata was scheduled to face Tucker Lutz on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197. However, the contest was cancelled in late October as Lutz was removed from the event in favor of another bout. Vannata faced Charles Jourdain on April 23, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 205. He lost the fight via a guillotine choke in round one. Vannata was scheduled to face Andre Fili on September 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 210. However, Vannata was forced to pull from the event due to injury. Vannata faced Daniel Zellhuber on April 15, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 44. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Vannata was scheduled to face Mike Breeden on August 12, 2023, at UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. dos Anjos. However, Vannata pulled out in early August and was replaced by Terrance McKinney. Vannata was scheduled to face James Llontop on April 27, 2024, at

UFC on ESPN 55 ''UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 55'' and ''UFC Vegas 91'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on April 27, 2024, at the UFC Apex facility, in Enterprise, N ...

. However, Vannata pulled out for unknown reasons, was replaced by Gabriel Green and subsequently replaced by Chris Padilla.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

** Fight of the Night (Four times) ** Performance of the Night (One time) **UFC.com Awards *** 2016:

Knockout of the Year '' The Ring'' magazine was established in 1922 and has named a Knockout of the Year since 1989, based on the magazine's writers' criteria. Knockouts of the Year by decade 1980s * 1989: Michael Nunn ''KO 1'' Sumbu Kalambay see Michael Nunn v ...

vs.

& Ranked #3 Newcomer of the Year ***2017: Ranked #7 Fight of the Year * MMAjunkie.com **2020 August Fight of the Month *MMADNA.nl **2016 Knockout of the Year vs.

Mixed martial arts record

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Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

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Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

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Copenhagen Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...

, Denmark , , - , Win , align=center, , Marcos Rosa Mariano , Submission (kimura) , UFC 234 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:55 ,

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

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, Draw (majority) , UFC 230 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

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, KO (spinning wheel kick) , UFC 206 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:40 ,

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

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, Submission (brabo choke) , UFC Fight Night: McDonald vs. Lineker , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:22 ,

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Sioux Falls ( ) is the List of cities in South Dakota, most populous city in the U.S. state of South Dakota and the List of United States cities by population, 117th-most populous city in the United States. It is the county seat of Minnehaha Coun ...

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Pueblo, Colorado Pueblo ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality, home rule municipality that is the county seat of and the List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous municipality in Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The ...

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Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Vannata, Lando 1992 births Living people American male mixed martial artists Lightweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing collegiate wrestling Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Mixed martial artists from New Jersey American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu People from Neptune City, New Jersey Sportspeople from Monmouth County, New Jersey Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters American male sport wrestlers Amateur wrestlers 21st-century American sportsmen