Austin Vanderford

Austin Vanderford is an American mixed martial artist competing in the UFC welterweight division. Born March 21, 1990, he is listed at 5 feet 11 inches with a 74-inch reach. As of September 16, 2026, the UFC athlete profile lists him as active and training at American Top Team. Vanderford first built his combat-sports foundation as a wrestler at Southern Oregon University, where he earned NAIA national-championship and All-American honors; the UFC also lists sociology as his college degree.

Vanderford turned professional in MMA in 2017 and established himself on the regional circuit before appearing on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018. He later competed in Bellator, where he challenged Gegard Mousasi for the promotion’s middleweight title in February 2022. After returning to the regional scene, Vanderford joined the UFC on short notice for his February 22, 2025 Octagon debut in Seattle. His UFC profile characterizes his approach as freestyle, while his wrestling background and stated preference for ground-and-pound point to a grappling-centered style that can be paired with finishing strikes.