Nick Denis facts for kids

Nick Denis, born on October 11, 1983, is a retired professional mixed martial artist from Canada. He was a skilled fighter who competed in several big organizations. These included World Victory Road, Aggression Fighting Championship, King of the Cage, and the UFC. Nick is famous for winning the King of the Cage Canada Bantamweight Championship. He also reached the semi-finals in a major tournament called the Sengoku Featherweight Tournament. In his first UFC fight, he won a special "Knockout of the Night" award.

Nick Denis's Fighting Career

Starting Out in Mixed Martial Arts

Nick Denis began his mixed martial arts (MMA) journey in October 2006. His first fights were in his home country, Canada. He quickly joined the King of the Cage Canada promotion. There, he soon became their Bantamweight champion.

In 2009, Nick started fighting internationally. He competed for the World Victory Road promotion. He took part in the Sengoku Featherweight Grandprix. This was a big tournament where he made it all the way to the semi-final round. Later, he fought against Bellator veteran Nick Mamalis. Nick Denis won that fight by knockout in the second round.

Fighting in the UFC

In December 2011, it was announced that Nick Denis had signed a contract with the UFC. This was a big step in his career.

His first fight in the UFC was on January 20, 2012. He faced Joseph Sandoval at an event called UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller. Nick won this fight by using standing elbows. His impressive win earned him the "Knockout of the Night" bonus award.

Nick was scheduled to fight Johnny Bedford on May 5, 2012. However, Bedford got injured and was replaced by Roland Delorme. Nick lost this fight to Delorme by a submission move called a rear-naked choke. It was an exciting first round where both fighters landed strong hits.

Retirement from Fighting

In November 2012, Nick Denis decided to retire from MMA. He shared his decision on his blog. He mentioned that his choice was influenced by research into a condition called Chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This condition can affect the brain due to repeated head injuries. Nick's research and thoughts on this topic are often discussed in media. They have been featured on shows like MMA Live and The Joe Rogan Experience.

Life Outside the Ring

Nick Denis is not just a fighter; he is also a very smart person. He studied at the University of Ottawa. There, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry.

After his "Knockout of the Night" win in the UFC, Nick used some of his bonus money wisely. He invested it in buying land. Today, he owns a large piece of land in North Stormont, Ontario, Canada. Nick is also a big fan of board games. He even designed a special way to play the game SeaFall more effectively.

Achievements and Awards

Nick Denis achieved several important things during his fighting career:

• King of the Cage
  • He won the KOTC Canada Bantamweight Championship one time.
  • He successfully defended his title once.
• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • He received the Knockout of the Night award one time. This was for his fight against Joseph Sandoval.

Mixed Martial Arts Record Summary

Here is a quick look at Nick Denis's professional fighting record:

More Information

• List of male mixed martial artists
• List of KOTC champions
• List of Canadian UFC fighters