Diego Nunes
Active 2011–present · rated in 1 edition · peak overall 76.0
Scouting report
Diego Nunes, born in Caxias do Sul in 1982, turned pro in May 2004 and fought in the WEC from December 2008. He lost for the first time to LC Davis at WEC 44 in November 2009. He beat Raphael Assuncao by split decision at WEC 49 in Edmonton and Mike Brown by split decision at UFC 125 on January 1, 2011. His UFC record was 3-3, and the UFC released him after a loss to Nik Lentz in Sao Paulo in January 2013.
Peak ratings
Diego Nunes: a decision fighter from Caxias do Sul
Nunes beat Cole Province at WEC 37 in December 2008 and Rafael Dias at WEC 42. Hand and other injuries cost him the Cub Swanson fight at WEC 40 and a Leonard Garcia fight at WEC 47. He left the UFC after Lentz, signed with Bellator in June 2013, and was knocked out by Patricio Freire in 1:19 at Bellator 99, the first time he had been finished. In November 2014 he won the Superior Challenge featherweight title by knocking out Joachim Hansen, despite breaking his knee in round one. His later fights ran into 2025.
Nunes, one rating at a time
Boxing. 76. His UFC wins over Brown and Gamburyan came on the scorecards, 29-28 on all three cards against Gamburyan at UFC 141.
Kickboxing. 82, his best striking number. Hansen was knocked out in round two at Superior Challenge 11 in November 2014.
Wrestling. 72. Lentz beat him over three rounds in Sao Paulo, and Matt Bessette beat him on a split decision at Bellator 110 in February 2014.
BJJ. 72. In 2017 he beat Michel Ersoy at Superior Challenge 16 and Corneliu Lascar at RXF 29, both with guillotines.
Strength. 74. Kenny Florian won a unanimous decision over him at UFC 131 in Vancouver in June 2011.
Durability. 78. Freire's 1:19 knockout in September 2013 was the first time anyone had finished him.
Cardio. 84, his best. All 11 of his WEC and UFC fights went to a decision.
Fight IQ. 78. He recovered from the knee injury against Hansen and did not fight for almost two years.
Cardio at 84 and three scorecards in a row
In the WEC he beat Province, Dias, Assuncao and Tyler Toner at WEC 51, all on the cards. His UFC debut against Brown was a split decision. The Bart Palaszewski fight at UFC on FX 5 in October 2012 went three rounds and both men took home a Fight of the Night bonus. He is a pick for a long fight.
Wrestling and BJJ tie at 72
Lentz won a unanimous decision in January 2013 and Nunes was released. Siver won another in Stockholm in April 2012. Mirzaev finished him in round one at Fight Nights Global 51 in September 2016, and Yusuke Yachi beat him on a split decision at Rizin 10 in May 2018.
Keep exploring
Closest featherweight profiles to Diego Nunes, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Erik Kochbest kickboxing 84 · weakest wrestling 72
- Pablo Garzabest cardio 80 · weakest wrestling 68
- Hacran Diasbest cardio 82 · weakest strength 74
- Will Chopebest cardio 80 · weakest wrestling 66
- Featherweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Protecting your streak: a guide that fits Diego Nunes's strongest attribute, Cardio.
Draft Diego Nunes into your build
Diego Nunes enters the pool on any spin landing on featherweight between 2010 and 2013. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Diego Nunes is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Diego Nunes'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.