As one of the worst kept secrets in MMA, Luke Riley is finally making his UFC debut after signing for the leading MMA organisation back in August.
The 26-year-old undefeated MMA star makes his UFC debut at UFC Qatar this weekend, as his journey begins as the UK’s next potential star. Here is everything you need to know about the 11-0 UFC debutant.
Who Is Luke Riley?
UFC President Dana White officially signed Liverpool’s next big MMA prospect Luke Riley back in August 2025.
Riley had been on the UFC’s radar for quite some time, which is party down to the influence of Paddy Pimblett.
Pimblett vs Ilia Topuria has been confirmed for the UFC 324 main event in his own career, but the #5 ranked lightweight has also been a massive influence on Riley signing with the UFC.
The 26-year-old was meant to fight on Dana White’s Contender Series last September, but encountered some visa issues forcing him to withdraw from the fight.
However, fast forward 11 months from his American dream being crushed and Riley officially signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Riley campaigns at featherweight, and is being backed to make it all the way to the very top of the 145-pound division by both fans and fellow fighters.
The Liverpudlian made his professional MMA debut back in 2021 in Cage Warriors, and had fought in the promotion ever since. Now, Riley has become the latest MMA fighter from Cage Warriors to make the move across to the UFC.
Several other fighters such as Conor McGregor, Tom Aspinall and Paddy Pimblett have made the exact same move from Cage Warriors to the UFC.
Will Luke Riley go on to be as successful as them? Time will tell!
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Luke Riley Makes UFC Debut At UFC Qatar
Almost exactly three months to the day after signing with the UFC, Luke Riley is set to make his UFC debut at UFC Qatar on November 22.
The Liverpudlian is expected to fight on the prelims of UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs Hooker, where he will make his UFC debut alongside a fellow scouser called Shem Rock.
Riley is headlining the prelims before the main card begins in a featherweight contest against Bogdan Grad. Grad has had two fights in the UFC, winning one and losing one.
The 26-year-old is expected to win in style, with many fans and influential MMA figures expecting him to win via knockout.
Now that he is part of Dana White’s organisation, Riley will be hoping to get his hands on several UFC bonuses from here on out. UFC Qatar could be the start of it, with Riley hoping to win a ‘Performance of the Night’ bonus on debut.
What Is Luke Riley’s MMA Record?
Having made his pro MMA debut around four years ago, Luke Riley has competed 11 times inside the octagon.
Prior to turning pro, the 26-year-old had just four amateur MMA bouts – winning them all.
As of today, Riley’s record stands at 11-0. Of these 11 victories inside the octagon, eight have come via knockout with just three being decision wins.
The Liverpool-based fighter fights out of the orthodox stance and stands at 5″7 tall. His last fight in Cage Warriors was a second round knockout victory over Tariel Abbasov in March earlier this year.
Riley comes from a Muay Thai background, having switched to MMA in 2019. He trains out of Next Generation Gym in Liverpool.
The scouser has followed in the footsteps of Next Generation fighters like Paddy Pimblett and Molly McCann who have signed with the UFC.
Paddy Pimblett Backs Luke Riley To Put UFC Featherweight Division On Notice
With Ilia Topuria vs Paddy Pimblett confirmed for UFC 324, ‘The Baddy’ will be firmly focusing on winning the UFC Lightweight Title come the New Year. However, he has other priorities before then with some of his gym-mates.
Pimblett continues to train out of the Next Generation Gym in Liverpool, which is where UFC debutant Luke Riley also learns his craft.
Nobody knows Riley better than Pimblett, who is backing his gym-mate to make it all the way to the very top now that he has officially signed with the UFC.
After Riley’s last win in Cage Warriors, the #5 ranked UFC lightweight called for Dana White to sign the 26-year-old once and for all:
“Luke Riley is ready for anyone and anything inside the cage, Dana White. You already know who my boy is. Get him signed to the UFC. He’s too good not to be on the roster, beating some FWs up for fun,” said ‘The Baddy’.
Pimblett’s appeal to the UFC President evidently worked, with White now waiting to watch Riley first-hand inside the octagon.
After making the move official, Pimblett expressed his delight for Riley, who he believes will go to the very top of the 145-pound division:
“My man Luke Riley finally put pen to paper. Was a long time coming but it was inevitable. All you featherweights aren’t ready for my boy, watch,” Pimblett wrote on Instagram.
Now that he has officially signed for the biggest MMA promotion in the world and is set to make his debut, everyone is about to see just how good Luke Riley is. Watch this space.
