Esteban Ribovics
Argentine mixed martial artist (born 1996)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Esteban Ribovics Marijan[2] (born April 27, 1996) is an Argentine mixed martial artist who currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).[3]
April 27, 1996
Tartagal, Salta, Argentina
| Esteban Ribovics | |
|---|---|
| Born | Esteban Ribovics Marijan April 27, 1996 Tartagal, Salta, Argentina |
| Other names | El Gringo |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) |
| Division | Lightweight |
| Reach | 69.0 in (175 cm)[1] |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Salta, Argentina |
| Team | Kill Cliff FC |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 19 |
| Wins | 16 |
| By knockout | 8 |
| By submission | 5 |
| By decision | 3 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Ribovics was born in Salta, Argentina. He first encountered mixed martial arts at the age of 12, when his friend introduced him to it, and he took a liking to it following his first class.[4] After finishing high school, at 17, he moved to Córdoba and began perfecting his skills, training in multiple disciplines such as boxing, muay thai, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He made his professional debut at age 18 with Infernales de Tartagal, in Salta.[4][5]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Ribovics made his professional debut on December 12, 2015, and faced Lautaro Iturbe. He won the fight via Inverted Triangle Choke in the third round. He then went 7–0 in his next 7 fights, winning all by finish.[5]
On December 10, 2020, he faced Javier Basurto for the Fusion FC Interim Lightweight Championship. He won the bought by first round knockout.[6] On February 12, 2022, he fought Franco Aranda for the Samurai Fight House Lightweight Championship.[7] He won the bout once again by first-round knockout.[8] He then earned a Dana White's Contender Series contract in August 2022 by stopping Thomas Paull in 90 seconds.[8]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Ribovics was scheduled to make his UFC promotional debut against Kamuela Kirk on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285.[9] However, Kirk pulled out of the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Loik Radzhabov.[10] Ribovics lost the fight via unanimous decision.[11]
Ribovics then had his match with promotional newcomer Kamuela Kirk rescheduled and they fought on July 8, 2023, at UFC 290.[12] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[13]
Ribovics was scheduled to face Elves Brener on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231.[14] However, Ribovics pulled out of the fight after suffering an accident that made him unable to fight.[15]
Ribovics then faced Terrance McKinney on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56.[16] He won the fight via first-round knockout.[17]
Ribovics faced Daniel Zellhuber on September 14, 2024, at UFC 306.[18] He won the back and forth fight by split decision.[19] This fight earned him his first Fight of the Night award.[20]
Ribovics faced Nasrat Haqparast on March 1, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 253.[21] Ribovics lost the fight via split decision.[22] The bout earned him another Fight of the Night award.[23] 9 out of 11 media outlets scored the bout for Ribovics.[24]
Ribovics ended up facing Elves Brener on August 2, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 71.[25] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[26] This fight earned him another Fight of the Night award.[27]
Ribovics faced Mateusz Gamrot on April 11, 2026, at UFC 327.[28] He lost the fight via an arm-triangle choke submission in the second round.[29]
RIbovics faced Edson Barboza on August 15, 2026 at UFC 330.[30] He won the fight by technical knockout in the second round.[31]
Championships and accomplishments
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Daniel Zellhuber, Nasrat Haqparast and Elves Brener[20][23][27]
- UFC Honors Awards
- UFC.com Awards
- 2024: Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber[33]
- Samurai Fight House
- SFH Lightweight Champion (one time)
- Fusion FC
- FFC Interim Lightweight Champion (one time)
- LowKick MMA
- 2024 Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306[34]
- Bleacher Report
- 2024 Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber[35]
- Full Violence Awards
- 2024 Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber at UFC 306[36]
- MMA Fighting
- 2024 Round of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber[37]
- MMA Junkie
- 2024 Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber[38]
- CBS Sports
- 2024 UFC Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber[39]
- Cageside Press
- 2024 Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber[40]
- BodySlam.net
- 2024 Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber[41]
- MMA Mania
- 2024 #2 Ranked Fight of the Year vs. Daniel Zellhuber[42]
Mixed martial arts record
| 19 matches | 16 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 8 | 0 |
| By submission | 5 | 1 |
| By decision | 3 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 16–3 | Edson Barboza | TKO (punches) | UFC 330 | August 15, 2026 | 2 | 1:32 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |
| Loss | 15–3 | Mateusz Gamrot | Submission (arm triangle choke) | UFC 327 | April 11, 2026 | 2 | 4:19 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 15–2 | Elves Brener | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Taira vs. Park | August 2, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 14–2 | Nasrat Haqparast | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Kape vs. Almabayev | March 1, 2025 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 14–1 | Daniel Zellhuber | Decision (split) | UFC 306 | September 14, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 13–1 | Terrance McKinney | KO (head kick) | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento | May 11, 2024 | 1 | 0:37 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 12–1 | Kamuela Kirk | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 290 | July 8, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 11–1 | Loik Radzhabov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 285 | March 4, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–0 | Thomas Paull | KO (punches) | Dana White's Contender Series 50 | August 16, 2022 | 1 | 1:30 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–0 | Franco Aranda | KO (punch) | Samurai Fight House 3 | February 12, 2022 | 1 | 0:27 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | Won the inaugural SFH Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–0 | Javier Basurto | KO (punches) | Fusion FC 44 | December 10, 2020 | 1 | 0:07 | Lima, Peru | Won the interim FFC Lightweight Championship. |
| Win | 8–0 | Jose Zarauz | TKO (punches) | Fusion FC 43 | March 4, 2020 | 3 | 4:40 | Lima, Peru | |
| Win | 7–0 | Brian Flamengo | KO (punches) | United Fighting Series 9 | November 9, 2019 | 1 | 0:22 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Win | 6–0 | Lucas Aybar | Submission (kimura) | United Fighting Series 7 | August 4, 2019 | 1 | 4:24 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Win | 5–0 | Juan Jose Ibanez | Submission (kimura) | Power Fight: La Batalla del Puente 1 | May 13, 2017 | 3 | 4:08 | Corrientes, Argentina | |
| Win | 4–0 | Maximiliano Ortiz | Submission (kimura) | Hualsur FC: Noche de Campeones 18 | October 15, 2016 | 3 | 0:00 | Córdoba, Argentina | |
| Win | 3–0 | Didier Nahuel | Submission (keylock) | Cage League Championship 1 | July 9, 2016 | 1 | 1:49 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| Win | 2–0 | Fernando Garcia | KO (superman punch) | Battle Cage 1 | May 22, 2016 | 2 | 2:30 | Las Heras, Argentina | Catchweight (163 lb) bout. |
| Win | 1–0 | Lautaro Iturbe | Submission (inverted triangle choke) | Hualsur FC: Noche de Campeones 14 | December 12, 2015 | 3 | 2:35 | Córdoba, Argentina | Lightweight debut. |