Raulian Paiva

Raulian Paiva Frazão (born 17 October 1995) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who competed in the Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Background
Paiva was born and raised Santana, Amapá, Brazil where he still trains. He started his MMA career at the age of 18. Paiva attended college majoring in IT, but dropped out to pursue a career in mixed martial arts.

Dana White Contender Series
Paiva appeared on the program Dana White's Contender Series Brazil. He faced Allan Nascimento on August 11, 2018 and won the fight via split decision. With the win, Paiva was offered a UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Paiva made his UFC debut on February 10, 2019 at UFC 234 where he faced New Zealand fighter Kai Kara-France. He lost the fight on a split decision.

His next fight was on August 10, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Shevchenko vs. Carmouche 2 against Rogério Bontorin. He lost the fight via technical knockout after receiving a deep gash on his eyebrow.

Paiva faced Mark De La Rosa on February 15, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 167. He won the fight via knockout in the second round.

Paiva faced Zhalgas Zhumagulov on July 11, 2020 at UFC 251. At the weigh ins, Paiva weighed in at 129 pounds, 3 pounds over the flyweight non-title limit. He was fined 20% of his purse. The bout proceeded at catchweight. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Paiva was expected to face Amir Albazi on October 31, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Hall vs. Silva. However, Paiva pulled out of the fight on 11 September citing a knee injury.

Paiva was scheduled to face David Dvořák on May 22, 2021 at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt. However, Paiva pulled out of the fight on the day before the event due to ill effects related to his weight cut. As a result, the bout was scrapped.

Paiva faced Kyler Phillips on July 24, 2021 at UFC on ESPN: Sandhagen vs. Dillashaw. Paiva won the fight via majority decision despite 14 of 16 media members scoring the bout a draw. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Paiva faced Sean O'Malley on December 11, 2021 at UFC 269. He lost the fight via first round TKO.

Paiva faced Sergey Morozov on June 25, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 38. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

It was announced in mid January that Paiva was released by the UFC.

Post UFC
Paiva was scheduled to face fellow UFC vet Timur Valiev on October 20, 2023 at UAE Warriors 45, however Paiva missed weight and the bout was scrapped.

Personal life
On 21 October 2018 Paiva and his girlfriend Tieli Alves were leaving a party in their hometown on motorcycle when they were intentionally struck by a car driven by individuals they had gotten into an argument with at the event. Paiva did not suffer any serious injuries but his girlfriend Alves suffered serious head trauma and remained in a coma for six days before dying. The alleged occupants of the car, Elber Nunes Zacheu and Johny de Souza Amoras, were later arrested by police, Zacheu was handed the sentence for 16 years both for the death of Tieli Alves, and for attempting to kill Paiva and the driver, de Souza Amoras, had been a fugitive, but was arrested a day prior to Zacheu’s trial commencing where his trial is expected to commence in 2023. In remembrance of his late girlfriend Paiva has had her name written on his mouthguard during his UFC fights.

Mixed martial arts

 * Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Kyler Phillips
 * North Extreme Championship
 * NEC Bantamweight Championship (one time; former)