Niko Price (born September 29, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the Welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Niko Price | |
---|---|
Born | (1989-09-29) September 29, 1989 (age 34) Cape Coral, Florida, United States |
Other names | The Hybrid[1] |
Residence | Cape Coral, Florida, United States[2] |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
Weight | 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st) |
Division | Welterweight |
Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
Team | Vickery Jiujitsu and Syndicate Boxing Club |
Rank | Brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3] |
Years active | 2012–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 25 |
Wins | 16 |
By knockout | 10 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 3 |
Losses | 7 |
By knockout | 5 |
By submission | 1 |
By decision | 1 |
No contests | 2 |
Other information | |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Born and raised in Cape Coral, Florida,[2] Price attended Mariner High School where he played linebacker for the school's football team. Upon graduating, Price began training in kickboxing, winning two bouts both via knockout.[4] Price briefly went to college, studying criminal justice.[5] He started training mixed martial arts in 2008.[5]
After going undefeated (9–0) as an amateur, Price made his professional MMA debut in February 2012. Before joining the UFC Price amassed a record of 8–0 with 7 of his 8 wins coming by stoppages.[6]
Price made his promotional debut for the UFCatUFC 207 against Brandon Thatch. He won the fight via submission in the first round.
Price next fight came at UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie against Alex Morono.[7][8] He won the fight via knockout in the second round; however, this was later overturned to a no contest after he tested positive for marijuana.[9]
Price next faced Alan JoubanatUFC Fight Night: Pettis vs. Moreno on August 5, 2017.[10] He won the fight via TKO in round one.[11] The win also earned Price his first Performance of the Night bonus award.[12]
Price was to face Luan Chagas on October 28, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida.[13] On October 6, it was announced that Chagas had pulled out of the bout due to a fractured foot and was replaced by Vicente Luque.[14] Price lost the fight via D'Arce variation of the brabo in Brazil or D’Arce choke submission after a combination of strikes had him appearing out on his feet in round two.[15]
Price faced George Sullivan January 27, 2018, at UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2.[16] He won the fight by rear-naked choke submission in the second round.[17]
Price was expected to face Belal Muhammad on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131.[18] However, Price was removed from the bout on May 22 for undisclosed reasons and replaced by promotional newcomer Chance Rencountre.[19]
Price faced Randy Brown on July 14, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 133.[20] He won the fight via knockout in the second round after landing several hammerfists from the bottom to knock Brown out.[21] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[22]
Price faced Abdul Razak Alhassan on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228.[23] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.[24]
Price faced Tim Means on March 9, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 4.[25] He won via knockout in the first round, becoming the first man to finish Means by knockout in MMA competition.[26] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[27]
Price faced Geoff Neal on July 27, 2019, at UFC 240.[28] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.[29]
Price faced James Vick on October 12, 2019, at UFC on ESPN+ 19.[30] He won the fight via knockout in round one after landing an upkick from the bottom to knock Vick out.[31] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus award.[32]
Price was expected to face Muslim Salikhov on April 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Harris.[33] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was eventually postponed.[34]
On March 21, 2020, Price announced that he had signed a new, four-fight contract with the UFC.[35]
Price was scheduled to face Vicente Luque in a rematch on April 18, 2020, at UFC 249.[36] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed[37] and the bout eventually took place on May 9, 2020.[38] He lost the fight via technical knockout due to doctor stoppage in round three.[39]
Price faced Donald Cerrone on September 19, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 178.[40] The fight was declared a majority draw.[41] On November 4, it was announced that the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) issued a temporary suspension for Price, after he tested positive for carboxy THC in a drug test related to his fight.[42] On December 2, 2020, it was announced that the bout was overturned to no contest and Price was suspended for six months and fined $8,500.[43]
Price faced Michel Pereira on July 10, 2021, at UFC 264.[44] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[45]
As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Price faced Alex Oliveira on October 2, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192.[46][47] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[48]
Price faced Philip Rowe on December 3, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 42.[49] After knocking Rowe down in the earlier rounds, Price lost the bout via TKO stoppage in the third.[50]
Price faced former UFC Welterweight champion Robbie Lawler on July 8, 2023, at UFC 290.[51] He was knocked out 38 seconds into the bout.[52]
Price was scheduled to face Jeremiah Wells on June 1, 2024 at UFC 302.[53] However, Wells was pulled from the bout and was replaced with Alex Morono in a rematch.[54] Price won the fight by unanimous decision.[55]
Price competed against Pat Sabatini at Fury Pro Grappling 8 on December 30, 2023.[56] He lost the match by submission.[57]
Niko and his wife Erica have six children.[58] On June 1, 2024 at the UFC 302 press conference, Price confirmed that he and his wife are expecting their seventh child.[59]
25 matches | 16 wins | 7 losses |
By knockout | 10 | 5 |
By submission | 3 | 1 |
By decision | 3 | 1 |
No contests | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 16–7 (2) | Alex Morono | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 302 | June 1, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | |
Loss | 15–7 (2) | Robbie Lawler | KO (punches) | UFC 290 | July 8, 2023 | 1 | 0:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 15–6 (2) | Philip Rowe | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Thompson vs. Holland | December 3, 2022 | 3 | 3:26 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Catchweight (173.5 lb) bout; Rowe missed weight. |
Win | 15–5 (2) | Alex Oliveira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker | October 2, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 14–5 (2) | Michel Pereira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 264 | July 10, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
NC | 14–4 (2) | Donald Cerrone | NC (overturned) | UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley | September 19, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Price was deducted one point in round 1 for repeated eye pokes. Originally a majority draw; overturned after Price tested positive for carboxy THC. |
Loss | 14–4 (1) | Vicente Luque | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC 249 | May 9, 2020 | 3 | 3:37 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | |
Win | 14–3 (1) | James Vick | KO (upkick) | UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson | October 12, 2019 | 1 | 1:44 | Tampa, Florida, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Loss | 13–3 (1) | Geoff Neal | TKO (punches) | UFC 240 | July 27, 2019 | 2 | 2:39 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
Win | 13–2 (1) | Tim Means | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. dos Santos | March 9, 2019 | 1 | 4:50 | Wichita, Kansas, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Loss | 12–2 (1) | Abdul Razak Alhassan | KO (punch) | UFC 228 | September 8, 2018 | 1 | 0:43 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
Win | 12–1 (1) | Randy Brown | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Ivanov | July 14, 2018 | 2 | 1:09 | Boise, Idaho, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 11–1 (1) | George Sullivan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 | January 27, 2018 | 2 | 4:21 | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | |
Loss | 10–1 (1) | Vicente Luque | Submission (D’Arce choke) | UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Machida | October 28, 2017 | 2 | 4:08 | São Paulo, Brazil | |
Win | 10–0 (1) | Alan Jouban | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Pettis vs. Moreno | August 5, 2017 | 1 | 1:44 | Mexico City, Mexico | Performance of the Night. |
NC | 9–0 (1) | Alex Morono | NC (overturned) | UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. The Korean Zombie | February 4, 2017 | 2 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | Originally a KO (punch) win for Price; overturned after he tested positive for marijuana. |
Win | 9–0 | Brandon Thatch | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC 207 | December 30, 2016 | 1 | 4:30 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 8–0 | Willie Hosch | Decision (unanimous) | Fight Time 32 | August 12, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
Win | 7–0 | Jose Caceres | TKO (punches) | Fight Time 30 | April 22, 2016 | 1 | 1:31 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Defended the Fight Time Welterweight Championship. |
Win | 6–0 | Maurice Salmon | TKO (punches) | Fight Time 26 | July 17, 2015 | 1 | 2:38 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | Won the Fight Time Welterweight Championship. |
Win | 5–0 | Michael Lilly | TKO (punches) | Fight Time 23 | February 6, 2015 | 2 | 1:05 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Danilo Padilha Da Silva | TKO (punches) | Fight Time 21 | November 7, 2014 | 1 | 0:22 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
Win | 3–0 | David Hayes | TKO (punches) | Fight Time 20 | August 29, 2014 | 1 | 3:07 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
Win | 2–0 | Mikerson Lindor | TKO (punches) | Fight Time 19 | May 30, 2014 | 1 | 4:59 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
Win | 1–0 | Alejandro Gomez | Submission (armbar) | Fight Time 8 | February 17, 2012 | 1 | 2:49 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States |