Rani Yahya

Rani Ahmad Yahya (born September 12, 1984) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and BJJ practitioner. He won the 66 kg division of the prestigious ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship in April 2007. He currently fights in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background
Yahya was born to a Syrian father and Brazilian mother. He trained judo, taekwondo and karate in his childhood, finding Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 11.

World Extreme Cagefighting
Yahya made his WEC debut against former TKO Major League MMA featherweight champion Mark Hominick at WEC 28 on May 3, 2007. Yahya defeated Hominick in the first round with a rear naked choke.

He fought and lost to Chase Beebe via unanimous decision for the WEC bantamweight championship at WEC 30 on September 5, 2007, and earned Fight of the Night bonus.

On November 5, 2008, at WEC 36, Yahya fought Yoshiro Maeda and won via Submission in the first round and earned the Submission of the Night bônus.

Yahya fought former WEC Bantamweight Champion Eddie Wineland on the undercard of WEC 40 on April 5, 2009. He won via Submission in the first round and earned the Submission of the Night bônus.

Yahya was scheduled to fight Kenji Osawa on August 9, 2009, at WEC 42, but due to a foot injury suffered by Osawa, he was replaced by John Hosman. Yahya submitted Hosman with a north–south choke in the first round and earned his third consecutive Submission of the Night bonus.

Yahya fought Joseph Benavidez on December 19, 2009, at WEC 45. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.

Yahya faced Takeya Mizugaki on April 24, 2010, at WEC 48. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were brought over to compete in the 2 new weight divisions.

Yahya was expected to face Chan Sung Jung on January 22, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 23. However, Jung was forced from the card with an injury. and replaced by Mike Brown. Yahya won the fight via unanimous decision.

Yahya was expected to face Dustin Poirier on June 11, 2011, at UFC 131, but had to pull out of the bout due to injury.

Yahya next faced Chad Mendes on August 6, 2011, at UFC 133. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Yahya was expected to face Jonathan Brookins on February 15, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV 1, but was forced out of the bout with an injury.

Yahya fought Josh Grispi on August 4, 2012, at UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera, replacing an injured Pablo Garza. Yahya was victorious, defeating Grispi in the first round with a north–south choke.

Yahya faced promotional newcomer Mizuto Hirota on March 3, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 8. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Yahya next faced Josh Clopton on August 3, 2013, at UFC 163. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Yahya faced promotional newcomer Tom Niinimäki on November 30, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. He lost the fight via split decision.

Yahya faced Johnny Bedford in a bantamweight bout on April 11, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 39. The bout ended in a No Contest as an accidental clash of heads rendered Yahya unable to protect himself, forcing a referee stoppage at 0:39 of round 1.

A rematch with Bedford was expected to take place on June 28, 2014, at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Stephens. However, Yahya was forced out of the bout and replaced by Cody Gibson.

The rescheduled rematch with Bedford eventually took place on September 13, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 51. Yahya won via submission in the second round.

Yahya was expected to face Masanori Kanehara on June 27, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 70. However, as the event approached, several international fighters experienced travel restrictions due to technical issues within the Bureau of Consular Affairs division of the U.S. State Department which produces travel visas. The issue lead to a major altering of the card as multiple fights were postponed. Yahya/Kanehara eventually took place on July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71. Yahya won the fight by split decision.

Yahya next faced touted promotional newcomer Matthew Lopez on July 13, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 91. Yahya won the fight via submission in the third round.

Yahya faced Michinori Tanaka on September 24, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 95. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Yahya faced Joe Soto on March 11, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 106. He lost the back-and-forth fight via unanimous decision.

Yahya faced Henry Briones on August 5, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Pettis vs. Moreno. He won the fight via a kimura submission in the first round.

Yahya was expected to face Aljamain Sterling on December 9, 2017, at UFC Fight Night 123. However, Yahya pulled out of the event due to injury.

Yahya faced Russell Doane on February 24, 2018, at UFC on Fox 28. He won the fight via submission in the third round.

Yahya faced Luke Sanders on August 25, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 135. He won the fight via heel hook submission in the first round.

Yahya faced Ricky Simón on February 10, 2019, at UFC 234. He lost the fight via unanimous decision after being knocked down twice.

Yahya faced Enrique Barzola on March 14, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 170. After a back-and-forth three rounds, the judges declared the bout a majority draw decision.

Yahya faced Ray Rodriguez on March 13, 2021, replacing Irwin Rivera, at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad. After dominating the fight with his takedowns and jiu-jitsu, Yahya won the fight via arm-triangle submission in the second round.

Yahya was scheduled to face Kang Kyung-ho on July 31, 2021, at UFC on ESPN 28. However the bout was cancelled a few hours before happening due to Yahya testing positive for COVID-19.

Yahya faced Kang Kyung-ho on November 20, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 198. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Yahya was scheduled to face Cody Garbrandt on July 9, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 39. However, Yahya withdrew in mid June due to a neck injury. The bout with Garbrandt was rescheduled and is expected to take place on October 1, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 211. In turn, Yahya withdrew again in mid-September for unknown reasons.

Yahya faced Montel Jackson on April 22, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 222. He lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Yahya was scheduled to face Alateng Heili on October 14, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 230. However, Yahya withdrew from the event for undisclosed reasons.

Yahya faced Victor Henry on April 27, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 55. After suffering two knockdowns, Yahya lost the bout by technical knockout in the third round.

Grappling credentials
ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championships

ADCC 2007 –65 kg: 1st Place

ADCC 2005 –65 kg: 2nd Place

ADCC 2003 –65 kg: Quarter finals.

Record of opponents:


 * Won: Teemu Launis (pts), Mario Delgado (pts), Wagney Fabiano (pts), Marcio Feitosa Souza (pts), Darell Moodley (sub), Bruno 'Chavez' Frazzato (Rear Naked Choke), Baret Yoshida (pts), Leo 'Leozinho' Vieira (Rear Naked Choke), Kohei Yasumi (sub), Jeff Glover (pts)
 * Lost: Leonardo Viera (pts), Leonardo Viera (pts), Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles (sub)

IBJJJF/CBJJ World Championships

2019 Black Belt Pena Master: 1st Place

2003 Brown Belt Pena: 1st Place

2002 Purple Belt Pluma: 1st Place

1999 Pan-Ams + World Blue Belt : 1st Place

Mixed martial arts

 * K-1 HERO'S
 * 2006 K-1 HERO'S Lightweight Grand Prix Semifinalist
 * TNT
 * TNT: Vale Tudo 2 Tournament Winner
 * World Extreme Cagefighting
 * Submission of the Night (three times) vs. Mark Hominick, Yoshiro Maeda, Eddie Wineland and John Hosman
 * Fight of the Night (one time) vs. Chase Beebe
 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Tied (with Urijah Faber) for the most submission wins in UFC Bantamweight division history (six)