Mads Burnell Bio
Mads Zerahn Burnell, born on 6 March 1994 in Husum, Denmark, is a professional mixed martial artist competing in the featherweight and lightweight divisions. Beginning his professional career in 2013, he has fought in major promotions including the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator MMA, the Professional Fighters League, and Cage Warriors, where he held the featherweight championship. Burnell is also a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, having won the European No-Gi Championship in 2014.
Fighting out of Copenhagen, Denmark, Burnell represents the Arte Suave Copenhagen Xtreme Couture team and trains under coach Nikolai Koubti. He holds a first-degree black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu awarded by Chris Haueter. Across his professional career, Burnell has compiled a record of twenty wins and eight losses, with finishes coming by knockout, submission, and decision.
Early Life and Background
Mads Burnell was born and raised in Husum, Denmark, where he first discovered his interest in combat sports. Growing up in a Scandinavian country with a strong wrestling and grappling culture, he began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at a young age, which laid the foundation for his later success in mixed martial arts.
His commitment to grappling earned him recognition on the international stage when he became the European No-Gi Champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2014. This achievement helped establish his reputation as a serious martial artist and gave him confidence as he transitioned into professional mixed martial arts competition.
Path to MMA
Burnell launched his professional MMA career in 2013, beginning with a string of impressive victories in Northern Europe. He won his first five professional bouts and built an early reputation as a skilled finisher on the regional circuit. His grappling-heavy style was a clear strength, and he regularly sought to bring opponents to the ground.
His first professional defeat came against Ott Tonissaar at Octagon Athletes 2, after which he continued to develop his skills. By the time he was ready to test himself on the global stage, Burnell had compiled a record of eight wins and one loss, which earned him an opportunity in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Mads Burnell Career
Early Career (2013-2017)
From 2013 to 2017, Mads Burnell built his professional resume on the Northern European regional circuit. He won his first five professional fights and continued to refine his Brazilian jiu-jitsu-based game plan. During this developmental period, he learned the value of patience and positioning, which became defining traits of his fighting style.
By the time he signed with the UFC, Burnell had built a record of eight wins and one loss. His regional success and grappling credentials made him an intriguing signing for the promotion, and he was set to face top competition in the featherweight division.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (2017-2018)
Burnell made his UFC debut on September 2, 2017, facing Michel Prazeres at UFC Fight Night: Volkov vs. Struve, after stepping in as a replacement for Islam Makhachev. The bout was changed to a catchweight contest after Prazeres missed the lightweight limit, and Burnell ultimately lost via submission due to a north-south choke in the third round.
He rebounded in his second appearance, defeating Mike Santiago via unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi on January 14, 2018. A few months later, he faced Arnold Allen at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Till on May 27, 2018. After dominating large portions of the bout, Burnell was caught in a front naked choke in the third round and suffered the loss. On September 7, 2018, he was released from the promotion.
Cage Warriors Era (2018-2020)
On the same day he parted ways with the UFC, news surfaced that Burnell had signed with Cage Warriors. He made his promotional debut on November 17, 2018, at Cage Warriors 99 against Lukasz Rajewski and won via rear-naked choke in the first round.
On June 29, 2019, at Cage Warriors 106, Burnell challenged Dean Trueman for the Cage Warriors featherweight title and captured the championship via a Japanese necktie submission in the second round. He later defended the title against Steve Aimable at Cage Warriors London in November 2019, winning by unanimous decision after the bout was changed to a non-title contest when Aimable failed to make championship weight.
Bellator MMA (2020-2023)
On August 4, 2020, Burnell signed with Bellator MMA and made his debut at Bellator 248 on October 10, 2020, defeating Darko Banovic by first-round TKO. He followed this with a second-round rear-naked choke victory over Saul Rogers at Bellator 257 on April 16, 2021, and a unanimous decision win over Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 263 on July 31, 2021. On September 22, 2021, he signed a new multi-fight contract with the promotion.
Burnell headlined Bellator 276 on March 12, 2022, against Ádám Borics, losing by unanimous decision. He dropped another decision to Pedro Carvalho at Bellator 285 on September 23, 2022, before bouncing back with a unanimous decision win over Justin Gonzales at Bellator 295 on April 22, 2023. He closed his Bellator run with another unanimous decision win against Daniel Weichel at Bellator 299 on September 23, 2023.
Professional Fighters League (2024-2025)
Burnell joined the Professional Fighters League in 2024 and moved up to the lightweight division. He lost his season opener to Michael Dufort via guillotine choke submission at PFL 2 on April 12, 2024, but rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Clay Collard in the main event of PFL 5 on June 21, 2024. He then defeated Elvin Espinoza by unanimous decision at PFL 8 on August 16, 2024.
On February 26, 2025, the promotion revealed that Burnell had joined the 2025 PFL Lightweight Tournament. In the quarterfinal at PFL 3 on April 18, 2025, he lost to Jay-Jay Wilson by technical knockout in the third round, and was later stopped by Robert Watley via third-round technical knockout at PFL 9 on August 15, 2025.
Style and Strengths
Mads Burnell is best known for his Brazilian jiu-jitsu base, which he has used to secure multiple submission victories across his career. His ability to control opponents on the ground, combined with growing striking skills, has made him a well-rounded competitor. Under the guidance of coach Nikolai Koubti and his team at Arte Suave Copenhagen Xtreme Couture, Burnell has continued to evolve his game in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most significant moments of Burnell’s career was capturing the Cage Warriors featherweight championship in 2019, making him one of the few Danish fighters to hold a major European MMA title. He also earned a prestigious unanimous decision victory over seasoned veteran Emmanuel Sanchez during his Bellator tenure. His European No-Gi Championship in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in 2014 further cemented his reputation as one of Scandinavia’s top grappling talents.
Mads Burnell Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Mads Burnell has accumulated twenty victories against eight defeats, with finishes spread across knockouts, submissions, and decisions. His wins have come in some of the most respected promotions in the sport, including the UFC, Cage Warriors, Bellator MMA, and the PFL.
Cage Warriors Highlights
Burnell made an immediate impact in Cage Warriors by winning his debut against Lukasz Rajewski via first-round rear-naked choke at Cage Warriors 99. He followed that performance by capturing the featherweight title with a Japanese necktie submission of Dean Trueman at Cage Warriors 106 in June 2019. He also earned a unanimous decision victory over Steve Aimable later that year in what was scheduled as a title defense.
Bellator Highlights
In Bellator, Burnell opened his account with a first-round TKO of Darko Banovic at Bellator 248 and added a second-round rear-naked choke win over Saul Rogers at Bellator 257. He also earned a high-profile unanimous decision over veteran Emmanuel Sanchez at Bellator 263 in July 2021, and finished his Bellator run with back-to-back unanimous decision wins over Justin Gonzales and Daniel Weichel in 2023.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the major promotions, Burnell won his first five professional fights on the Northern European regional scene between 2013 and 2017, showcasing his grappling skills early in his career. He also added a unanimous decision win over Clay Collard in the main event of PFL 5 in 2024 and a decision win over Elvin Espinoza at PFL 8, both of which demonstrated his ability to compete at the top level of the lightweight division.
Mads Burnell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mads Burnell was born and raised in Husum, Denmark, and later established his training base in Copenhagen. Limited verified information is available about his parents or extended family background, and he has kept his personal relationships largely private throughout his professional career.
Personal Life
Burnell currently resides in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he trains out of Arte Suave Copenhagen Xtreme Couture. He has not publicly disclosed details about a spouse or children, and he continues to focus on his professional fighting career in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions.
2025 Season Performance
Mads Burnell’s 2025 campaign was defined by his participation in the PFL Lightweight Tournament, marking his first full season competing in the lightweight division. After joining the tournament roster in late February 2025, he entered the bracket with hopes of capturing the season title and a playoff spot.
Burnell’s tournament run came up short, however, as he was eliminated from title contention with a third-round technical knockout loss to Jay-Jay Wilson in the quarterfinals at PFL 3 on April 18, 2025. He returned to action later in the year at PFL 9 on August 15, 2025, but suffered another third-round technical knockout defeat, this time to Robert Watley.
Despite the setbacks, Burnell’s willingness to face top-tier opposition and his move up in weight highlighted his continued evolution as a fighter. With his experience across the UFC, Cage Warriors, and Bellator, he remains one of Denmark’s most accomplished mixed martial artists heading into the next chapter of his career.
