Dennis Bermudez
Active 2012–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 79.0
Scouting report
A seven-fight UFC winning streak put Dennis "The Menace" Bermudez in the featherweight contender ranks. Born in Saugerties, New York, an NCAA Division I wrestler and TUF 14 finalist, Bermudez pressed a fast pace and beat Clay Guida. His work rate is reflected in an 88 Cardio rating and 84 Wrestling.
Peak ratings
By edition
Bermudez stopped Jimy Hettes and submitted Clay Guida with a second-round rear-naked choke at UFC on Fox 12 in San Jose, before losing by stoppage to Ricardo Lamas and Jeremy Stephens at UFC 189 in Las Vegas. His pace, wrestling, and power punching are reflected in an 88 Cardio and 84 Wrestling.
In 2016 and 2017, Bermudez won decisions over Tatsuya Kawajiri and Rony Jason, then lost by knockout to Chan Sung Jung in Houston and by split decision to Darren Elkins on Long Island. His pace, clinch wrestling, and takedown defense support his 86 Cardio and 82 Wrestling ratings.
Bermudez dropped split decisions to Andre Fili and Rick Glenn before closing his career with a decision win over Te Edwards at UFC Fight Night 143 in Brooklyn. His endurance and takedown work are reflected in an 84 Cardio and 78 Boxing score in his final bout.
Dennis Bermudez, the wrestler who always looked for a scrap
Dennis Bermudez began wrestling in 2000 and became a college freestyle All-American after wrestling at Bloomsburg University. He started MMA in Saugerties in 2009 and trained at Blackman MMA in Harrisburg. On The Ultimate Fighter 14 he beat Jimmie Rivera to get into the house, then Stephen Bass and Akira Corassani to reach the final. In a draft he gives you a high-pace featherweight who wants every round to be a brawl.
What each Bermudez rating means
Boxing. One of his better numbers. He clipped Tommy Hayden with a front kick and a right hand before finishing him, and he stopped Jimy Hettes in the third round in 2014.
Kickboxing. Solid and used mostly to set up entries.
Wrestling. A top rating for him. College wrestling gave him the takedowns he used to get past Clay Guida in 2014.
BJJ. His lowest rating at 74, though he did submit Akira Corassani with a guillotine on the show and Tommy Hayden with another.
Strength. High for the weight, and it shows in how he wrestles and stays heavy on top.
Durability. Good. He took part in Fight of the Night bouts against Diego Brandao, Matt Grice and others, though he was stopped by Jeremy Stephens in 2015 and Chan Sung Jung in 2017.
Cardio. The headline number at 88. He fought Fight of the Night bouts at a pace few featherweights could keep.
Fight IQ. Good, not exceptional. He takes risks and it costs him at times.
Cardio at 88 drives the whole style
Cardio is his best number, four points clear of his next best, and his fights back it up. The Matt Grice fight in 2013 was a split decision and both men received Fight of the Night. He also won a split decision over Max Holloway that same year, even though 11 of 11 media outlets scored it for Holloway. He keeps coming for all fifteen minutes.
BJJ at 74 is the place to attack
His weakest rating is jiu-jitsu, and the final of The Ultimate Fighter 14 shows it. He knocked Diego Brandao down and was working from the top when he got caught in an armbar. Ricardo Lamas also submitted him in the first round in 2014. Real grapplers can hunt him.
Keep exploring
Closest featherweight profiles to Dennis Bermudez, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Mirsad Bekticbest wrestling 86 · weakest kickboxing 76
- Sodiq Yusuffbest boxing 86 · weakest bjj 74
- Nik Lentzbest cardio 88 · weakest kickboxing 70
- Dan Igebest durability 88 · weakest bjj 78
- Featherweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Protecting your streak: a guide that fits Dennis Bermudez's strongest attribute, Cardio.
Draft Dennis Bermudez into your build
Dennis Bermudez enters the pool on any spin landing on featherweight between 2014 and 2019. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Dennis Bermudez is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Dennis Bermudez's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.