Don'Tale O'Neil Mayes (born January 16, 1992) is an American professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

. He competed in the

Heavyweight Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling. Boxing Professional Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

(UFC), achieving a 6–9 record, and 1 no contest in the promotion.

Background

Born and raised in Kentucky, Mayes begun training martial arts to discharge his aggression. He initially picked up judo before transitioning to other disciplines as well. In judo he claimed Kansas and Indiana state championships. Mayes attended

Ancilla College Ancilla College was a private Roman Catholic junior college near Donaldson, Indiana. It was founded by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ in 1937 as an extension of DePaul University for the training of Catholic novices and candidates of the Poor ...

but did not receive a degree.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Mayes competed as an amateur from 2014 to 2015, compiling an undefeated 8–0 record. Mayes then compiled a 3-1 professional record, winning the Hoosier FC Heavyweight Championship in only his second fight. He was invited to participate in Dana White's Contender Series 8 of

Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series Dana White's Contender Series, formerly named Dana White's Tuesday Night Contender Series, is an American mixed martial arts promotion. In May 2017, the UFC announced White would hold the competition weekly on UFC Fight Pass (It has since been mov ...

. Mayes faced

Allen Crowder Allen Crowder (born November 8, 1989) is a retired American mixed martial artist who competed in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Allen Crowder's nickname "Pretty Boy" comes from his amateur care ...

, losing by technical knockout in the third round. He appeared twice more on the Contender Series, winning both fights by stoppage, earning his UFC contract on the second try.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Don'Tale Mayes made his UFC debut against

Ciryl Gane Ciryl Romain Jacky Gane (born April 12, 1990) is a French professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Interi ...

on October 26, 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren. He lost the fight by a heel hook in the third round. Mayes faced Rodrigo Nascimento on May 16, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Harris. He lost the fight via second round rear naked choke. Mayes faced

Roque Martinez Roque Martinez (born March 4, 1986) is a retired Chamorro mixed martial artist who competed in the Heavyweight division. He has formerly competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Rizin Fighting Federation. Background Born and raised on ...

on November 14, 2020 UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos. He won the fight via unanimous decision. Mayes was scheduled to face

Tai Tuivasa Tai Anthony Tuivasa (born 16 March 1993) is an Australian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of June 10, 2025, he is #11 in the UFC heavyweight r ...

on March 20, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland. However, Mayes was removed from the fight during the week leading up to the event for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer Harry Hunsucker. Mayes faced Josh Parisian on December 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Daukaus. He won the bout via TKO in the third round. Mayes was scheduled to face

Justin Tafa Justin Tafa (born 13 December 1993) is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Early life Tafa was born in Auckland, New Zealand, to a family of ...

on July 30, 2022, at

UFC 277 ''UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 30, 2022, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, United States. Background A UFC Women's Bantamweight Cha ...

. Tafa pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by promotional newcomer

Hamdy Abdelwahab Hamdy El-Said Abdelwahab (; born 22 January 1993) is an Egyptian Greco-Roman wrestler and mixed martial artist currently competing in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He competed in the men's Greco-Roman 98 kg ev ...

on July 18. Mayes lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision. However, the fight was later ruled a no contest after Abdelwahab was suspended by

USADA The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA, ) is a non-profit, non-governmental 501(c)(3) organization and the national anti-doping organization (NADO) for the United States. To protect clean competition and the integrity of sport and prevent ...

, due to Abdelwahab failing to disclose a history of using Methenolone before joining the UFC and testing positive thereafter. Mayes faced

Augusto Sakai Augusto dos Santos Sakai (born 19 May 1991) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who formerly competed in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Bellator MMA. Mixed martial arts career Early career Sakai made ...

on February 25, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 220. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Mayes faced

Andrei Arlovski Andrei Arlovski (, born 4 February 1979) is a Belarusian-American professional mixed martial artist and actor. A former UFC Heavyweight Champion, he competed in the heavyweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and holds th ...

on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. He won the fight via technical knockout in the second round. Mayes faced Rodrigo Nascimento in a rematch on November 4, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 231. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Mayes faced Caio Machado on April 27, 2024, at

UFC on ESPN 55 ''UFC on ESPN: Nicolau vs. Perez'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 55'' and ''UFC Vegas 91'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on April 27, 2024, at the UFC Apex facility, in Enterprise, N ...

. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Mayes faced

Shamil Gaziev Shamil Hasbulatovich Gaziev (born February 10, 1990) is a Russian and Bahraini professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2020, Gaziev ea ...

on August 3, 2024, at UFC on ABC 7. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. Mayes faced Valter Walker on February 15, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 251. He lost the fight via a heel hook submission in the first round. Mayes faced Thomas Petersen on May 3, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 67. He lost the fight by unanimous decision. On May 7, 2025, it was reported that Mayes was released by the UFC.

Championships and accomplishments

*Hoosier Fight Club **Hoosier FC Heavyweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Mayes, DonTale Living people American male mixed martial artists Heavyweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing boxing Mixed martial artists utilizing judo Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters American male judoka 1992 births Mixed martial artists from Kentucky Sportspeople from Louisville, Kentucky 21st-century American sportsmen