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Brian Kelleher
Bantamweight · “Boom”

Brian Kelleher

24-16-0 UFC 8-9-0
Submission Grappler Wrestler Takedown Liability Submission-Vulnerable
5'6"Height
66"Reach
SwitchStance
40Age
2KO wins
3Sub wins
62.5%Finish rate
7:51Avg fight

Skill profile

Rated 0–100 · where 138 MMA has read him, his grades and tags set each axis and the stats only nudge inside his band · stats alone where he is silent · the rim is reserved for specialists
Striking — Average, rated 58 of 100 · 138 MMA: striking good · Jul 2024 · stats read 45 → nudged -4 inside the band · claims striking technique +2, kicking +2 (+5) Accuracy — Below avg, rated 31 of 100 · claims striking technique +2 (+4) Striking D — Weak, rated 23 of 100 · stats only — nothing in his reads bears on this axis Durability — Below avg, rated 38 of 100 · stats only — nothing in his reads bears on this axis Wrestling — Average, rated 63 of 100 · stats only — nothing in his reads bears on this axis TD Defense — Weak, rated 9 of 100 · 138 MMA tag td defense: broken · Jul 2024 · stats read 37 → nudged +7 inside the band · tag getup: poor (-10) · claims td defense -3, getup +1 (-4) Grappling — Average, rated 65 of 100 · 138 MMA: grappling good · Jul 2024 · stats read 71 → nudged +5 inside the band · tag sub threat: good (+3) Control — Average, rated 65 of 100 · claims top control -1 (-4) Striking Accuracy Striking D Durability Wrestling TD Defense Grappling Control
striking good
2 analyst reads graded this phase
  • good UFC Fight Night Lemos vs Jandiroba Full Card Analysis, Prediction & Breakdown (UFC Vegas 94) · July 15, 2024 watch ↗
  • good UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon Predictions And Full Card Breakdown UFC Vegas 72 · April 25, 2023 watch ↗
grappling good
1 analyst read graded this phase
  • good UFC Fight Night Lemos vs Jandiroba Full Card Analysis, Prediction & Breakdown (UFC Vegas 94) · July 15, 2024 watch ↗
wrestling not yet read
cardio not yet read
durability not yet read
striking good 2 reads
grappling good 1 read
wrestling not yet read
cardio not yet read
durability not yet read

138 MMA anchors Striking, TD Defense, Grappling · his tags and claims adjust Accuracy, Control · stats alone on Striking D, Durability, Wrestling.

Submission Grappler average grappling — rates 65 of 100 · 138 MMA: grappling good · Jul 2024
Wrestler average wrestling — rates 63 of 100 among UFC veterans
Takedown Liability 138 MMA · Jul 2024 tags td defense: broken
Submission-Vulnerable 5 of 9 losses came by submission
Career rates — the raw numbers behind the chart
Sig. strikes landed / min3.31
Sig. strikes absorbed / min4.59
Striking accuracy41.4%
Striking defense54.6%
Knockdowns / 15 min0.34
Takedowns / 15 min1.68
Takedown accuracy41.7%
Takedown defense60.0%
Sub attempts / 15 min0.67
Control time25.6%
Record vs .500+ opponents3-7

Insider info

3 analyst reads · 138 MMA · our paraphrase, never his words
vs Cody Gibson clear UFC Fight Night Lemos vs Jandiroba Full Card Analysis, Prediction & Breakdown (UFC Vegas 94) · July 15, 2024
strikinggood grapplinggood

A specific, unhedged mechanism: Gibson lands first and often with his reach, stays safe against Kelleher's guillotine hunting, and grinds out minutes on top for a decision -- he closes by flatly declaring Gibson the winner by decision. He separately flags the betting line as on the wide side, which is wager caution about price, not a hedge on the outcome, so it is recorded here but does not demote the grade.

A good striker with good combinations and leg kicks, plus good scrambles and a good guillotine on the mat, but the analyst calls his takedown defense badly lacking ('sucks most of the time'), usually because he's hunting a guillotine instead of defending or scrambling back up.

Strengthgood combinations
Strengthreally good leg kicks (referenced via his prior Cody Garbrandt fight, a third-party past opponent)
Strengthvery good scrambles, good guillotine
Weaknesstakedown defense badly lacking ('sucks most of the time') -- he prioritizes hunting a guillotine over getting back to his feet
td defense · brokengetup · poorsub threat · good
vs Cody Garbrandt coinflip UFC 296 Full Card Breakdown, Prediction, & Analysis · December 12, 2023 · 1 read since
strikinggood

lowest amount of confidence

Our paraphrase: Kelleher is predominantly a boxer on the feet with good scrambles and a dangerous, frequently-used guillotine in the grappling, but his takedown defense isn't his strength and he is often held down because he prioritizes hunting submissions over working back to his feet.

Strengthgood boxing-oriented striking
Strengthgood scrambles
Strengthdangerous, frequently-used guillotine
Weaknesstakedown defense isn't the best
Weaknesscan be held down; prioritizes subs over getting back up
getup · poortd defense · suspect
vs Journey Newson coinflip UFC Fight Night Song vs Simon Predictions And Full Card Breakdown UFC Vegas 72 · April 25, 2023 · 2 reads since
strikinggood

He states the pick (Newson) but calls the fight 'a total pass for me' twice and adds 'who knows', explicitly declining to recommend a bet -- a direct hedge on the outcome itself, not just price.

Good boxer with decent combinations whose best art is grappling: good in scrambles with a reliable guillotine. The analyst dislikes his stylistic habit of hunting submissions from his back instead of returning to his feet, which leaves him exposed to takedown volume and control time -- a weakness he thinks could cost him rounds in this fight. His last five came against notably tougher competition than Newson's.

Strengthgood boxing with decent combinations
Strengthgood in scrambles
Strengthreliable guillotine
Weaknessprefers hunting submissions from his back over returning to feet
Weaknessgets taken down fairly often
Weaknesscan be held down
td defense · suspectgetup · poorcompetition quality · tested

Striking trend

Sig. strikes/min, last 8 fights · green = win
September 5, 2020 vs Ray Rodriguez — 1.54/min (W) — only 0.7 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Sep '20 February 13, 2021 vs Ricky Simon — 1.27/min (L) Feb '21 August 21, 2021 vs Domingo Pilarte — 1.87/min (W) Aug '21 January 15, 2022 vs Kevin Croom — 2.53/min (W) Jan '22 March 5, 2022 vs Umar Nurmagomedov — 0.31/min (L) — only 3.2 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Mar '22 June 25, 2022 vs Mario Bautista — 0.82/min (L) — only 2.5 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Jun '22 December 16, 2023 vs Cody Garbrandt — 4.59/min (L) — only 3.7 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Dec '23 July 20, 2024 vs Cody Gibson — 0.5/min (L) — only 4.0 min of tape, so this rate reflects how fast the fight ended more than how he fought Jul '24

Fight history

17 UFC bouts · newest first · opponent records as of fight night
L Cody Gibson 19-10 walk-in Submission · R1 3:58 — UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba · July 20, 2024
2/12Sig. strikes
13/24Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:05Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Cody Garbrandt 13-5 walk-in KO/TKO · R1 3:42 — UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington · December 16, 2023
17/25Sig. strikes
20/41Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:36Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Mario Bautista 9-2 walk-in Submission · R1 2:27 — UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot · June 25, 2022
2/3Sig. strikes
6/17Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L Umar Nurmagomedov 13-0 walk-in Submission · R1 3:15 — UFC 272: Covington vs. Masvidal · March 5, 2022
1/19Sig. strikes
18/26Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:06Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Kevin Croom 21-13 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Chikadze · January 15, 2022
38/77Sig. strikes
60/174Absorbed
6/8Takedowns
6:26Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Domingo Pilarte 8-2 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Gastelum · August 21, 2021
28/40Sig. strikes
3/11Absorbed
3/3Takedowns
12:49Control
0Knockdowns
2Sub attempts
L Ricky Simon 17-3 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 258: Usman vs. Burns · February 13, 2021
19/73Sig. strikes
45/98Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:12Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Ray Rodriguez 0-0 walk-in Submission · R1 0:39 — UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai · September 5, 2020
1/3Sig. strikes
1/5Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Cody Stamann 18-2-1 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer · June 6, 2020
57/177Sig. strikes
89/179Absorbed
1/3Takedowns
0:44Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Hunter Azure 8-0 walk-in KO/TKO · R2 3:40 — UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira · May 13, 2020
29/99Sig. strikes
62/132Absorbed
0/4Takedowns
0:29Control
1Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Ode Osbourne 8-2 walk-in Submission · R1 2:49 — UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy · January 18, 2020
7/12Sig. strikes
9/14Absorbed
1/2Takedowns
1:58Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Montel Jackson 6-1 walk-in Submission · R1 1:40 — UFC 232: Jones vs. Gustafsson 2 · December 29, 2018
6/10Sig. strikes
10/16Absorbed
0/1Takedowns
0:05Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
L John Lineker 28-8 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 3:43 — UFC 224: Nunes vs. Pennington · May 12, 2018
50/137Sig. strikes
102/233Absorbed
1/6Takedowns
0:43Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Renan Barao 34-5 walk-in Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00 — UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Stephens · February 24, 2018
94/203Sig. strikes
116/228Absorbed
1/4Takedowns
4:23Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Damian Stasiak 6-4 walk-in KO/TKO · R3 3:39 — UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Till · October 21, 2017
79/147Sig. strikes
43/112Absorbed
1/1Takedowns
4:34Control
1Knockdowns
1Sub attempts
L Marlon Vera 11-3-1 walk-in Submission · R1 2:18 — UFC Fight Night: Weidman vs. Gastelum · July 22, 2017
8/16Sig. strikes
5/15Absorbed
1/3Takedowns
1:03Control
0Knockdowns
0Sub attempts
W Iuri Alcantara 35-7 walk-in Submission · R1 1:48 — UFC 212: Aldo vs. Holloway · June 3, 2017
4/15Sig. strikes
12/28Absorbed
0/0Takedowns
0:00Control
0Knockdowns
1Sub attempts

Walk-in records count UFC bouts in this database. For the pre-UFC career, see the record breakdown below or the Tapology button up top.

Record breakdown

Full pro career (Wikipedia, results only)
24-16-0Pro record
Long Island MMA, 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu Long IslandGym / team

Wins by method

KO/TKO 8
Submission 10
Decision 6
Other 0

Losses by method

KO/TKO 2
Submission 9
Decision 5
Other 0

Fights by organization

UFC 17
CCFC 8
Ring of Combat 4
Bellator 2
Xtreme Fight Events 2
CES MMA 1
Pinnacle FC 1
Coalition of Combat 1

+ 4 more organizations in the full career list

Full career — 40 fights, every organization
OpponentMethodEventOrg RdTime
L Cody Gibson Submission (arm-triangle choke) UFC on ESPN: Lemos vs. Jandiroba
July 20, 2024
UFC 1 3:58
L Cody Garbrandt KO (punch) UFC 296
December 16, 2023
UFC 1 3:42
L Mario Bautista Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on ESPN: Tsarukyan vs. Gamrot
June 25, 2022
UFC 1 2:27
L Umar Nurmagomedov Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 272
March 5, 2022
UFC 1 3:15
W Kevin Croom Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze
January 15, 2022
UFC 3 5:00
W Domingo Pilarte Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum
August 21, 2021
UFC 3 5:00
L Ricky Simón Decision (unanimous) UFC 258
February 13, 2021
UFC 3 5:00
W Ray Rodriguez Submission (guillotine choke) UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Sakai
September 5, 2020
UFC 1 0:39
L Cody Stamann Decision (unanimous) UFC 250
June 6, 2020
UFC 3 5:00
W Hunter Azure KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Teixeira
May 13, 2020
UFC 2 3:40
W Ode' Osbourne Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 246
January 18, 2020
UFC 1 2:49
L Montel Jackson Submission (D'Arce choke) UFC 232
December 29, 2018
UFC 1 1:40
L John Lineker KO (punch) UFC 224
May 12, 2018
UFC 3 3:43
W Renan Barão Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Emmett vs. Stephens
February 24, 2018
UFC 3 5:00
W Damian Stasiak TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Cerrone vs. Till
October 21, 2017
UFC 3 3:39
L Marlon Vera Submission (armbar) UFC on Fox: Weidman vs. Gastelum
July 22, 2017
UFC 1 2:18
W Iuri Alcântara Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 212
June 3, 2017
UFC 1 1:48
W Julio Arce Submission (guillotine choke) Ring of Combat 54
March 4, 2016
Ring of Combat 3 0:18
W Josh Robinson KO (spinning back fist) Ring of Combat 53
November 20, 2015
Ring of Combat 3 0:24
W Julio Arce Decision (majority) Ring of Combat 52
September 25, 2015
Ring of Combat 3 5:00
W Jay Haas Submission (guillotine choke) CCFC 49
June 6, 2015
CCFC 1 4:49
W Andre Soukhamthath Decision (unanimous) CES MMA 28
March 13, 2015
CES MMA 3 5:00
W Mark Cherico Submission (guillotine choke) Pinnacle FC 9
November 26, 2014
Pinnacle FC 1 0:37
L Andy Main Submission (triangle choke) CCFC 34
April 19, 2014
CCFC 1 1:26
W Lester Caslow Submission (rear-naked choke) CCFC 31
February 8, 2014
CCFC 2 1:34
L Jeff Smith Submission (armbar) CCFC 29
November 1, 2013
CCFC 2 4:39
L Scott Heckman Decision (unanimous) CCFC 27
September 21, 2013
CCFC 3 5:00
L Jimmie Rivera Decision (unanimous) Bellator 95
April 4, 2013
Bellator 3 5:00
W Tyler Kahihikolo Decision (unanimous) Coalition of Combat
December 1, 2012
Coalition of Combat 3 5:00
W Bill Jones KO (punch) WCMMA 1: Portugal vs. USA
September 15, 2012
WCMMA 1 0:10
W Ryan Vaccaro TKO (flying knee) Rock Out Knock Out
June 2, 2012
Rock Out Knock Out 2 0:56
W Raphael Chavez TKO (punches) CCFC 14
April 14, 2012
CCFC 2 3:41
W Josh Parker Submission (rear-naked choke) NEF: Fight Night 1
February 11, 2012
NEF 1 4:31
L Artur Rofi Submission (armbar) CCFC 12
December 10, 2011
CCFC 1 4:57
L Claudio Ledesma Decision (unanimous) Bellator 54
October 15, 2011
Bellator 3 5:00
W Michael LaDuke TKO (doctor stoppage) Ring of Combat 37
September 9, 2011
Ring of Combat 3 3:14
W Manny Millan Submission (rear-naked choke) Xtreme Fight Events: Cage Wars 9
July 29, 2011
Xtreme Fight Events 1 3:34
W Siyam Yousefi Submission (guillotine choke) CCFC 8
May 20, 2011
CCFC 1 2:41
W Nate Ainsworth KO (punch) CZ 37
April 29, 2011
CZ 1 0:23
L Dan Cion Submission (guillotine choke) Xtreme Fight Events: Cage Wars 5
March 11, 2011
Xtreme Fight Events 1 4:42

Career history from the fighter's Wikipedia record table (Brian Kelleher) — results only, no strike stats; UFC bouts are marked and carry full stats in the fight history above.

Division context

vs. 124 qualified Bantamweight fighters · tick = division mean
Striking volume /min 3.3 avg 3.7
Strikes absorbed /min 4.6 avg 3.6
Striking accuracy 41.4% avg 44.0%
Striking defense 54.6% avg 56.4%
Takedowns /15 min 1.7 avg 1.6
Takedown accuracy 41.7% avg 36.9%
Takedown defense 60.0% avg 62.8%
Sub attempts /15 min 0.7 avg 0.5
Control time 25.6% avg 19.4%
Finish rate 62.5% avg 48.2%

Headshot of Brian Kelleher by UFC · Official UFC athlete photo (copyright UFC; not freely licensed) · Wikimedia Commons · flattened onto dark background, cropped/resized