Marc Diakiese Bio
Marc Diakiese (born 16 March 1993) is an English professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division. He is currently signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and formerly competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship and BAMMA. Nicknamed “Bonecrusher,” Diakiese is known for his striking and grappling skills and trains out of American Top Team. He holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and fights out of Doncaster, England.
Early Life and Background
Marc Diakiese was born on 16 March 1993 in Kinshasa, then part of Zaire, before later settling in England. He began training in mixed martial arts at the age of 17, primarily to keep fit and stay out of trouble. Before committing fully to fighting, Diakiese worked as a railway engineer and was also a promising footballer during his youth. His athletic background in football helped lay the foundation for the discipline and physical conditioning that would later define his mixed martial arts career.
After moving to England, Diakiese was drawn into the world of combat sports, where he discovered a natural talent for both striking and grappling. He developed his early skills at several gyms in the United Kingdom, including Titan Fighter Asylum, Vale Tudo London, Shootfighters, and Scramble Academy Leeds. These formative training environments shaped his well-rounded approach to fighting and prepared him for the professional ranks.
Path to MMA
As an amateur competitor, Marc Diakiese compiled an impressive 9–0 record and simultaneously held three different amateur titles. He turned professional in 2013 after struggling to find willing opponents at the amateur level, a sign of how quickly he had outgrown regional competition. His early professional bouts took place in small promotions across the United Kingdom, where he racked up four wins in under a year.
That rapid success caught the attention of BAMMA, one of Europe’s leading mixed martial arts organizations, which signed him to a five-fight contract in 2014. Diakiese made his BAMMA debut in September 2014 against Jefferson George at BAMMA 16, winning by unanimous decision. He followed that victory with another decision win over Vernon O’Neill at BAMMA 17, setting the stage for a championship opportunity in 2015.
Marc Diakiese Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Marc Diakiese began his professional career in 2013 and wasted no time building a reputation as a finisher. After four straight wins in regional UK promotions, he earned a developmental contract with BAMMA in 2014. His promotional debut against Jefferson George at BAMMA 16 resulted in a unanimous decision victory, followed by another decision win at BAMMA 17.
In March 2015, Diakiese faced Jack McGann at BAMMA 19 for the vacant Lightweight Championship and won by unanimous decision to claim his first major title. He successfully defended the belt at BAMMA 22, knocking out Rick Selvarajah just 24 seconds into the first round. In February 2016, he signed a new deal with BAMMA, and three months later he finished Kane Mousah in 36 seconds at BAMMA 25 to earn a second title defense and a UFC contract.
BAMMA Breakthrough (2014–2016)
Diakiese’s rise through BAMMA was nothing short of dominant. He captured the vacant BAMMA Lightweight Championship in March 2015 with a unanimous decision over Jack McGann at BAMMA 19, becoming one of the promotion’s brightest young stars. The title win established him as a serious prospect on the European MMA scene and gave him valuable experience fighting in high-profile main card bouts.
He followed his championship win with two emphatic title defenses, both ending in the first round by knockout. His 24-second demolition of Rick Selvarajah at BAMMA 22 and his 36-second finish of Kane Mousah at BAMMA 25 made headlines across the sport. Those performances ultimately earned him a contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization.
UFC Era (2016–2023)
Marc Diakiese made his UFC debut on 8 October 2016 at UFC 204 against Łukasz Sajewski after original opponent Reza Madadi withdrew due to injury. Diakiese won the fight by TKO in the second round, storming back after being smothered in the opening frame. He added another decision win over Frankie Perez at UFC Fight Night in December 2016 and then stunned Teemu Packalén with a 30-second knockout at UFC Fight Night in March 2017, earning his first Performance of the Night bonus.
His UFC run was marked by a mix of highlights and setbacks. Diakiese earned a memorable unanimous decision win over Joseph Duffy in March 2019 and a victory over Lando Vannata later that year, prompting him to sign a new multi-fight deal with the promotion. A thrilling bout against Rafael Fiziev in July 2020 earned him a Fight of the Night award, though he lost the fight by unanimous decision. He also recorded wins over Viacheslav Borshchev, Damir Hadžović, and Kauê Fernandes before departing the UFC in 2023.
American Top Team and PFL Era (2024–Present)
After his UFC tenure concluded, Marc Diakiese signed with the Professional Fighters League in June 2024, joining the promotion’s lightweight ranks. He made his PFL debut on 14 September 2024 at Bellator Champions Series 5 against Tim Wilde and won by unanimous decision. In May 2024, he also competed on the professional grappling circuit, facing Benoît Saint Denis in the no-gi main event of ADXC 4, where he lost by unanimous decision.
On 15 January 2025, it was announced that Diakiese had joined the 2025 PFL World Tournament in the lightweight division. He faced Gadzhi Rabadanov in the quarterfinals on 18 April 2025 at PFL 3 and lost the bout by knockout in the first round. He continues to train out of American Top Team, where he has developed his skills since 2016.
Driving Style and Strengths
Marc Diakiese is known for his well-rounded skill set, combining crisp striking with increasingly effective grappling. His purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gives him a strong foundation on the mat, and he has shown the ability to control opponents on the ground, as demonstrated in his win over Viacheslav Borshchev. His experience training at American Top Team has refined his overall game and made him a more dangerous all-around competitor.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Diakiese’s signature moments are his two BAMMA Lightweight Championship title defenses, both ending in under a minute by knockout. He also earned two UFC post-fight bonuses, including a Performance of the Night award in 2017 and a Fight of the Night bonus in 2020. In 2017, he became the first UFC fighter to pose for Gay Times, an LGBT publication.
Marc Diakiese Career Wins
Marc Diakiese has compiled an 18–8 professional record across his career, with victories spread across BAMMA, the UFC, and the PFL. He has won four fights by decision, three by submission, and one by knockout, with the remainder of his stoppages coming during his dominant BAMMA title reign.
BAMMA Highlights
Diakiese captured the BAMMA Lightweight Championship in March 2015 with a unanimous decision win over Jack McGann. He defended the title twice, both times by first-round knockout, including a 24-second finish of Rick Selvarajah and a 36-second stoppage of Kane Mousah. Those championship performances cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s top lightweight prospects.
UFC Highlights
During his UFC tenure, Diakiese earned notable wins over Łukasz Sajewski, Frankie Perez, Teemu Packalén, Joseph Duffy, Lando Vannata, Viacheslav Borshchev, Damir Hadžović, and Kauê Fernandes. His knockout of Packalén in just 30 seconds earned him a Performance of the Night bonus in 2017, while his Fight of the Night battle with Rafael Fiziev in 2020 was another standout moment.
Other Wins & Performances
In addition to his BAMMA and UFC victories, Diakiese picked up a unanimous decision win over Tim Wilde in his PFL debut in September 2024. He also recorded four wins in regional UK promotions before earning his BAMMA contract in 2014.
Marc Diakiese Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Marc Diakiese was born in Kinshasa, then part of Zaire, before relocating to England during his upbringing. Limited public information is available about his parents or extended family members.
Personal Life
Diakiese has a son and a daughter. He currently resides in Doncaster, England, and is openly supportive of the LGBT community, having become the first UFC fighter to pose for Gay Times in 2017.
2025 Season Performance
Marc Diakiese entered 2025 as a participant in the 2025 PFL World Tournament, marking his first full season with the promotion. The tournament placed him among the top lightweights in the PFL format, with the lightweight bracket offering a clear path to a championship and a million-dollar prize.
Diakiese faced Gadzhi Rabadanov in the tournament quarterfinals on 18 April 2025 at PFL 3, but was stopped via knockout in the first round. The early exit ended his 2025 tournament run and forced him to reassess his approach heading into the rest of the season.
Despite the quarterfinal loss, Diakiese remains active in the PFL lightweight division and continues to train out of American Top Team. With experience across BAMMA, the UFC, and now the PFL, he is expected to remain a competitive presence in the 2025 season and beyond.