Gabriel Bonfim Bio
Gabriel de Souza Bonfim (born August 20, 1997) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former professional boxer who competes in the welterweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Known by the nickname Marretinha, he is widely recognized for his grappling-heavy finishing style, with the majority of his wins coming by submission. He is a former Legacy Fighting Alliance Welterweight Champion and is currently ranked among the top welterweight contenders in the UFC.
Training out of Brasília, Brazil, with his family-led team, Bonfim Brothers Academy, he has built a reputation as a dangerous finisher inside the Octagon. He is the brother of fellow UFC fighter Ismael Bonfim, and the two are often mentioned together as one of the most notable sibling pairings in modern mixed martial arts.
Early Life and Background
Gabriel de Souza Bonfim was born on August 20, 1997, in Brasília, Brazil. He was raised in a large family of eleven children, where resources were limited and responsibilities were shared among the siblings from a young age. During his childhood, his father struggled with alcoholism and eventually abandoned the family. In response, his older brother and sister stepped in to find work and help provide financial stability for the household.
Growing up in Brasília, Bonfim was exposed to combat sports at an early age, influenced heavily by his older brother Ismael Bonfim, who also pursued a career in professional mixed martial arts. The two brothers later founded Bonfim Brothers Academy, a gym that would become the foundation of Gabriel’s professional fighting career and serve as his training base throughout his rise through the sport.
Path to MMA
Bonfim began his professional fighting career in 2014, initially competing in the bantamweight division. He quickly transitioned between weight classes, moving from bantamweight to lightweight in 2016 and later to welterweight the same year, where he has remained active ever since. During his early years, he also built a professional boxing record of 5-0 with one knockout, showcasing his striking abilities alongside his developing mixed martial arts skillset.
From 2014 to 2019, Bonfim competed extensively in regional Brazilian promotions, amassing an undefeated mixed martial arts record of 10-0. His performances in these regional circuits, combined with his parallel success in professional boxing, helped establish him as one of the promising prospects in Brazilian combat sports. This strong developmental foundation paved the way for his move to the American-based Legacy Fighting Alliance.
Gabriel Bonfim Career
Early Career (2014-2019)
Gabriel de Souza Bonfim turned professional in mixed martial arts in 2014 and spent his first five years building his record on the Brazilian regional circuit. Competing initially at bantamweight before settling into the welterweight division, he remained undefeated through this period, finishing the stretch with a 10-0 mixed martial arts record.
During the same period, he also pursued a professional boxing career, compiling a perfect 5-0 record that included one knockout victory. His ability to blend grappling and striking during these developmental years helped shape the well-rounded skillset that would later make him a sought-after prospect on the international stage.
Legacy Fighting Alliance (2021-2022)
Bonfim joined the Legacy Fighting Alliance in 2021, entering the one-night LFA Welterweight Grand Prix at LFA 112 on July 19, 2021. In the semifinal, he defeated Brenner Alberth via a third-round finish, advancing to the final against Carlos Leal, though he was forced to withdraw from that matchup due to concussion-like symptoms.
On March 11, 2022, at LFA 126, Bonfim was scheduled to face Quemuel Ottoni for the vacant LFA Welterweight Championship, but Ottoni withdrew and was replaced by Eduardo Garvon. Although Garvon missed weight at 175.8 pounds and was ineligible for the title, Bonfim claimed the championship with a first-round arm-triangle choke, becoming the LFA Welterweight Champion.
Dana White’s Contender Series (2022)
Following his LFA title run, Bonfim was invited to Dana White’s Contender Series 53 on September 6, 2022. Originally scheduled to face Felix Klinkhammer, his opponent was changed late in the process to Trey Waters. Bonfim won the bout via a Von Flue choke in round one, a performance that earned him a UFC contract.
UFC Debut and Early Octagon Years (2023)
Gabriel de Souza Bonfim made his UFC debut on January 21, 2023, at UFC 283, where he submitted Mounir Lazzez via a guillotine choke in round one. He followed that performance with another first-round guillotine choke submission victory over Trevin Giles at UFC 291 on July 29, 2023, quickly establishing himself as a finisher in the welterweight division.
Bonfim faced his first UFC setback on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231, when he lost to Nicolas Dalby via technical knockout in round two. Despite the defeat, his performance in that bout earned him the Fight of the Night bonus award.
Rising Contender (2024-2025)
On July 13, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 59, Bonfim returned to the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Ange Loosa. He then faced Khaos Williams on February 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 251, stepping in on short notice after Rinat Fakhretdinov withdrew due to injury. Bonfim won the fight by choking Williams unconscious with a brabo choke in round two, earning the Performance of the Night award in the process.
On July 12, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 70, Bonfim secured a controversial split decision victory over former title challenger Stephen Thompson, a fight that 12 of 14 media outlets scored in favor of Thompson. Later in 2025, he defeated Randy Brown via technical knockout in the second round in the main event of UFC Fight Night 264 on November 8, 2025, earning another Performance of the Night bonus.
UFC Main Event and Ranking Climb (2026)
On June 6, 2026, Bonfim headlined UFC Fight Night 278 against former UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad. Bonfim won the fight by unanimous decision, solidifying his place as a top contender in the division and continuing his rise up the UFC welterweight rankings.
Style and Strengths
Gabriel de Souza Bonfim is widely regarded as a grappling specialist inside the cage, with the majority of his professional victories coming by way of submission. His dangerous submission game includes a variety of chokes such as the guillotine, arm-triangle, Von Flue, and brabo choke, allowing him to finish opponents from multiple positions. He is also a capable striker with a professional boxing background, and he has shown improving cardio and composure in longer fights, as demonstrated in his decision wins over Stephen Thompson and Belal Muhammad.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his most notable career moments is his LFA Welterweight Championship victory over Eduardo Garvon in 2022 and his UFC contract-winning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series. His main event win over former champion Belal Muhammad stands as his highest-profile victory to date, and multiple Performance of the Night bonuses highlight his finishing ability inside the Octagon.
Gabriel Bonfim Career Wins
Gabriel de Souza Bonfim has compiled a strong professional record across mixed martial arts, highlighted by a high number of submission finishes. His career wins span regional promotions in Brazil, the Legacy Fighting Alliance, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he has emerged as one of the welterweight division’s most dangerous grapplers.
UFC Highlights
Bonfim has secured multiple victories inside the UFC since his 2023 debut, including submission wins over Mounir Lazzez and Trevin Giles, a decision win over Ange Loosa, and a brabo choke finish of Khaos Williams that earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. His 2025 split decision win over Stephen Thompson and his main event victory over former welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in 2026 further cemented his status as a top contender.
Other Wins and Performances
Away from the UFC, Bonfim captured the LFA Welterweight Championship in 2022 with a first-round arm-triangle choke of Eduardo Garvon and earned a UFC contract with his Von Flue choke win over Trey Waters on Dana White’s Contender Series. He also compiled a perfect 5-0 professional boxing record with one knockout during his early career in combat sports.
Gabriel Bonfim Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gabriel de Souza Bonfim was raised in a large family in Brasília, Brazil, as one of eleven children. He is the younger brother of Ismael Bonfim, a professional mixed martial artist who also competes in the UFC’s lightweight division. Together, the brothers founded Bonfim Brothers Academy, the gym where Gabriel has built his professional career.
Personal Life
Bonfim currently resides in Brasília, Brazil, where he trains at Bonfim Brothers Academy alongside his brother and other members of his extended family. He continues to represent his hometown in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s welterweight division.
2025 Season Performance
Gabriel de Souza Bonfim’s 2025 campaign was a defining year in his UFC career, marked by high-profile performances against established welterweight names. He opened the year with a sharp submission win over short-notice opponent Khaos Williams at UFC Fight Night 251, earning a Performance of the Night bonus for his second-round brabo choke finish.
He then stepped up in opposition against former title challenger Stephen Thompson at UFC on ESPN 70 on July 12, 2025, earning a split decision win that drew mixed reactions from media scorecards. Later in the year, Bonfim was originally scheduled to face Randy Brown at UFC Fight Night 261 before the bout was elevated to the main event of UFC Fight Night 264 on November 8, 2025, where he stopped Brown via second-round technical knockout to claim another Performance of the Night award.
Heading into the next phase of his career, Bonfim’s momentum positioned him for a major main event opportunity, eventually leading to his 2026 clash with former champion Belal Muhammad. With multiple bonuses, signature finishes, and an undefeated record against all but one opponent during the year, 2025 confirmed Bonfim’s arrival as a serious contender in the UFC welterweight division.
