Julio Arce

Julio Arce (born October 27, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist. He was the former Ring of Combat bantamweight and featherweight champion. He also won the Golden Gloves 2011 Championship. Arce currently competes in the Bantamweight division in the UFC.

Background
Arce was born in Florida but moved to Colombia as a child, returning stateside around the age of ten. He graduated from Benjamin N. Cardozo High School and got his associate degree in business afterwards.

At fourteen and weighing 200 pounds, Arce joined Team Tiger Schulmann combat gym to lose weight. He started training, competed in kickboxing, and won the New York Golden Gloves championship in 2011 in boxing prior to transitioning to MMA in 2012.

Early career
Arce started his professional MMA career in 2012 and fought most of his fights in Ring of Combat promotion and he was the bantamweight and featherweight champion. He amassed a record of 8–1 before signed by UFC.

Dana White's Contender Series
Arce appeared in Dana White's Contender Series 5 web series program. He faced Peter Petties and won the fight via technical knockout. Even with the win, Arce was not awarded a UFC contract at that event. However, he was later signed by the UFC on short notice to replace an injured Charles Rosa at UFC 220.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Arce made his UFC debut on January 20, 2018, against Dan Ige, replacing an injured Charles Rosa at UFC 220. He won the fight via unanimous decision with the scoreboard of (30-27, 30–27, 29–28).

His next fight came on June 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 131 against Daniel Teymur. He won the fight via a rear-naked choke in the third round.

Arce faced Sheymon Moraes on November 3, 2018, at UFC 230. He lost the fight via split decision.

Arce faced Julian Erosa on May 18, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 152. He won the fight via knockout in the third round.

Arce faced Hakeem Dawodu on November 2, 2019, at UFC 244. He lost the fight by a split decision.

Arce was expected to face Timur Valiev on a bantamweight bout on February 6, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 184. However, Arce was removed from the event in late January due to undisclosed reasons and replaced by Martin Day.

Arce faced Andre Ewell on July 24, 2021, at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw. He won in the second round via technical knockout.

Arce faced Song Yadong on November 13, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 197. He lost the fight via technical knockout in round two.

As the first fight of his new four-fight contract, Arce faced Daniel Santos on April 9, 2022, at UFC 273. At the weigh-ins, Arce weighed in at 136.5 pounds, half a pound over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceed at a catchweight and he will forfeit 20% of his purse which will go to his opponent Daniel Santos. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Arce faced Montel Jackson on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Arce was scheduled to face Cody Garbrandt on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285. However, Arce withdrew in late January due to a knee injury and was replaced by Trevin Jones.

Arce faced Herbert Burns on March 30, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 54. At the weigh ins, Arce weighed in at 147.25 pounds, one and a quarter pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at catchweight and he was fined 20 percent of his purse which went to his opponent Burns. Arce won the fight via technical knockout in round two.

Mixed martial arts

 * Ring of Combat
 * Ring of Combat Bantamweight Champion (one time; former)
 * Three successful title defenses
 * Right of Combat Featherweight Champion (one time; former)
 * Two successful title defenses

Boxing

 * Golden Gloves
 * Golden Gloves 2011 Champion

Personal life
Arce is a head instructor at the Tiger Schulmann’s Bayside location in Queens, NY.