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Light Heavyweight Division

Not Fighting

Zak Cummings

Light Heavyweight Division

25-7-0 (W-L-D)

5

Wins by Knockout

12

Wins by Submission

Zak Cummings

athlete record

Info

Learn more about Zak Cumming's UFC history, fighter facts, and Q&A below.

Status
Not Fighting
Place of Birth
Irving, United States
Trains at
Glory MMA & Fitness
Fighting style
Jiu-Jitsu
Age
38
Height
72.00
Weight
206.00
Octagon Debut
Aug. 29, 2013
Reach
75.00
Leg reach
40.00
  • Team Sonnen member on TUF 17

     
  • Pro since 2007

     
  • Was 3-1 in return to middleweight after nine fights at welterweight (6-3)

     
  • Twelve wins by submission (RNC, 3 guillotine, 2 D’arce, 2 armbar, neck crank, Americana, two undisclosed submissions), six by knockout

     
  • Has won 12 of his last 16 and four of his last five

     
  • Owns 2009 win over UFC vet Terry Martin

     
  • Has also faced Tim Kennedy and Ryan Jimmo

UFC on ESPN (4/15/23) Cummings stopped Ed Herman via strikes at 4:13 of the third round 

UFC Fight Night (8/29/20) Cummings won a three round unanimous decision over Alessio Di Chirico

UFC 242 (9/7/19) Cummings lost a three round unanimous decision to Omari Akhmedov

UFC Fight Night (5/18/19) Cummings submitted Trevin Giles via guillotine choke at 4:01 of the third round

UFC on FOX (12/15/18) Cummings won a three round unanimous decision over Trevor Smith

UFC Fight Night (5/19/18) Cummings lost a three round split decision to Michel Prazeres

UFC on FOX (4/15/17) Cummings submitted Nathan Coy via guillotine choke at 4:21 of the first round

UFC Fight Night (11/19/16) Cummings submitted Alexander Yakovlev via armbar at 4:02 of the second round

UFC Fight Night (8/6/16) Cummings lost a three round unanimous decision to Santiago Ponzinibbio

UFC Fight Night (4/10/16) Cummings won a three round unanimous decision over Nicolas Dalby

UFC on FOX (7/25/15) Cummings stopped Dominique Steele via strikes at :43 of the first round

UFC Fight Night (7/19/14) Cummings was submitted by Gunnar Nelson via rear naked choke at 4:48 of the second round

UFC Fight Night (5/10/14) Cummings won a three round unanimous decision over Yan Cabral

UFC Fight Night (8/28/13) Cummings submitted Benny Alloway via D’Arce choke at 4:19 of the first round.

 

The Ultimate Fighter, Season 17

On episode eight, Cummings lost a two round majority decision to Dylan Andrews

On episode one, Cummings knocked out Nik Fekete in the first round

TRAINING:  We have a team practice in the morning, including drills, technique and sparring. Midday I do some sort of strength and conditioning, stability or movement drills. My evenings consist of another team practice, depending on the day, that includes BJJ, Muay Thai, or MMA. 

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started training in 2005, originally to cross train over the summer while between wrestling seasons. Then once I was done wrestling, I started training more seriously to get back in shape, with no desire to fight. After about six months, a fight presented itself and after a 41 second submission win I was hooked.



What ranks and titles have you held? Nova Uniao brown belt, Midwest CageFighting Championship Middleweight Champion and XFC Middleweight Champion

Do you have any heroes? I've always looked up to my family, and guys like Cael Sanderson, Rich Franklin, and Anderson Silva are guys I've looked to in the athletic world.



What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? Fighting in the UFC verifies all the years of hard work I've put in and sacrifices I've made. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to test myself against the best guys in the world.



Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Earned an Associates Degree in Business Administration at Meramec Community College while wrestling. Still working towards a Bachelor Degree in Exercise and Movement Science at Missouri State University.



What was your job before you started fighting? Full-Time Student and worked as a Lab Assistant.



Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 2x NJCAA Wrestling National Qualifier, 6-0 MMA and held a title.



Favorite grappling technique: D'Arce Choke



Favorite striking technique: Anything to the liver