Adrian Yañez (born November 29, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Adrian Yañez was born in Houston and grew up in La Porte, Texas. His father being a Golden Gloves winner, Yañez went into boxing from a young age, but later on took up BJJ. He started training MMA at the age of 15, having his first fight at the age of 17. Before the UFC, Yañez worked for the City of Deer Park as a Meter Reader. For most of his mixed martial arts career Yañez trained under late Saul Soliz in Houston, TX.
After finishing a successful 6-0 amateur career with four consecutive TKOâÂÂs, Yañez made his professional debut at just 20 years old, and ended with Yañez victorious by TKO in the third round. Suffering his first defeat against Levi Mowles in his very next bout, having no answer for the wrestling and ground and pound, he lost via unanimous decision. The Texan recovered with two victories in Fury FC, and then won his Bellator debut at Bellator 149 against Ryan Hollis via unanimous decision. Yañez then dropped a razor thin split decision to future UFC bantamweight Domingo Pilarte at . Winning his next two bouts in the promotion, Yañez faced another current UFC fighter Miles Johns for the vacant LFA Bantamweight Champion at . With history repeating itself, Yañez was on the wrong end of a close split decision loss. With two stoppage wins over Warren Stewart and Michael Rodriguez and then winning a split decision against Kyle Estrada at , Yañez was invited to Dana White's Contender Series 28, where he defeated Brady Huang in 39 seconds, earning a UFC contract in the process.
Yañez was scheduled to make his UFC debut against Aaron Phillips on October 31, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 181. However on October 20, Phillips pulled out due to an undisclosed injury. Instead, Yañez faced promotional newcomer Victor Rodriguez. Yañez won the bout via head kick knockout in the first round. This win earned him Performance Fight of the Night award.
Yañez faced Gustavo Lopez on March 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 21. He won the fight via walkoff knockout in round three. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Yañez faced Randy Costa at UFC on ESPN 27 on July 24, 2021. After getting dominated in the first round, Yañez rallied back in the second round winning by technical knockout. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.
As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Yañez faced Davey Grant on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 198. He won the bout via split decision, although 12 of 12 media scores gave it to Yañez. The bout earned both fighters the Fight of the Night award.
Yañez faced Tony Kelley on June 18, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 37. At the weigh-ins on June 17, Kelley weighed in at 137.5 pounds, 1.5 pounds over the non-title bantamweight limit. As a result, the bout proceeded as a catchweight and Kelley forfeited 20% of his purse to Yañez. He won the bout in the first round via TKO stoppage. This win earned him his fourth Performance of the Night award.
Yañez faced Rob Font on April 8, 2023, at UFC 287 He lost the bout via TKO in the first round.
Yañez faced Jonathan Martinez on October 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. After being dropped twice with leg kicks, Yañez lost the fight via TKO in round two.
Yañez faced Vinicius Salvador on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241. He won the bout by technical knockout from punches in the first round.
Replacing Said Nurmagomedov who withdrew for unknown reasons, Yañez faced Daniel Marcos on December 14, 2024 at UFC on ESPN 63. Yanez lost the fight by split decision.
Yañez was scheduled to face Cristian Quiñónez on November 8, 2025 at UFC on ESPN 73. However during fight week, Quiñónez withdrew from the bout for unknown reasons and the bout was subsequently cancelled.
Yañez faced Ricky Simón on March 28, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 271. The bout was declared a majority draw. 14 out of 15 media outlets scored the bout for Yanez.
Yañez has a son (born 2021).
|- |Draw |align=center| |Ricky Simón |Draw (majority) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Seattle, Washington, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|17âÂÂ6 |Daniel Marcos |Decision (split) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Tampa, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|17âÂÂ5 |Vinicius Salvador |TKO (punches) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:47 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|16âÂÂ5 |Jonathan Martinez |TKO (leg kick) | | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:26 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|16âÂÂ4 |Rob Font |TKO (punches) |UFC 287 | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:57 |Miami, Florida, United States | |- |Win |align=center|16âÂÂ3 |Tony Kelley |TKO (punches) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:49 |Austin, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|15âÂÂ3 |Davey Grant |Decision (split) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|14âÂÂ3 |Randy Costa |TKO (punches) | | |align=center|2 |align=center|2:11 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|13âÂÂ3 |Gustavo Lopez |KO (punch) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|0:27 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|12âÂÂ3 |Victor Rodriguez |KO (head kick) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|2:46 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|11âÂÂ3 |Brady Huang |TKO (punches) |Dana White's Contender Series 28 | |align=center|1 |align=center|0:39 |Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- |Win |align=center|10âÂÂ3 |Kyle Estrada |Decision (split) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Belton, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|9âÂÂ3 |Michael Rodriguez |TKO (punches) |Fury FC 33 | |align=center|1 |align=center|3:14 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|8âÂÂ3 |Warren Stewart |TKO (punches) |Fury FC 29 | |align=center|2 |align=center|1:46 |Humble, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|7âÂÂ3 |Miles Johns |Decision (split) | | |align=center|5 |align=center|5:00 |Dallas, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|7âÂÂ2 |Nathan Trepagnier |KO (punch) | | |align=center|1 |align=center|4:56 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|6âÂÂ2 |Trent Meaux |Decision (unanimous) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|5âÂÂ2 |Domingo Pilarte |Decision (split) | | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|5âÂÂ1 |Colin Wright |Submission (armbar) |Legacy FC 59 | |align=center|3 |align=center|2:44 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|4âÂÂ1 |Ryan Hollis |Decision (unanimous) |Bellator 149 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|3âÂÂ1 |D'Nearon Seymore |Submission (triangle choke) |Fury FC 7 | |align=center|1 |align=center|1:31 |Humble, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|2âÂÂ1 |Jake Snyder |TKO (punches) |Fury FC 6 | |align=center|2 |align=center|0:10 |Humble, Texas, United States | |- |Loss |align=center|1âÂÂ1 |Levi Mowles |Decision (unanimous) |Legacy FC 37 | |align=center|3 |align=center|5:00 |Houston, Texas, United States | |- |Win |align=center|1âÂÂ0 |Richard Delfin |TKO (punches) |Texas City Throwdown 1 | |align=center|3 |align=center|0:28 |Texas City, Texas, United States |