Joe Solecki (born August 27, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist. Solecki currently competes in the Lightweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Background
Solecki began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the age of 6. Joe states:
I got into BJJ at age 6 by accident, I wanted to do karate like the power rangers. My parents sent my brother for a year or two at first, but we ended up enrolling in a school where the instructor had begun training BJJ and he switched the entire curriculum to grappling by the time I signed up.[5]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Solecki started his professional as a pretty accomplished amateur with a 5–0 record. With all of those 5 amateur wins coming via submission or TKO. In his MMA debut at CFFC 61, he submitted Chris Rollins via rear-naked choke in the first round. Solecki also tapped out Andrew Cherico at CFFC 62 and Kevin Perez at CFFC 63, respectively. Although Joe was on an 8 fight win streak, that came to an end when he faced Cesar Balmaceda. That fight went Cesar's way via unanimous decision. He defeated Eric Calderon via TKO in round one at Warfare MMA 16. Then at CFFC 69, Solecki submitted Johnson Jajoute in the first round via rear-naked choke. He then came up against Nikolas Motta and unfortunately Solecki lost this fight via a finish. He tapped out Gilbert Patrocinio via triangle choke in round one at ROC 66. At CFFC 73, Solecki defeated Jacob Bohn via unanimous decision. In the main event of Dana White's Contender Series 19 on July 9, 2019, Solecki submitted James Wallace in the first round to pick up his sixth submission win as a professional along with a UFC contract.[6][7][8]
The bout with Hubbard was rescheduled on August 22, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Munhoz vs. Edgar.[13] Solecki won the fight by submission in the first round.[14]
Solecki faced Alex da Silva Coelho on June 4, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 207.[19] He won the bout via majority decision after a point deduction was given to da Silva due to repeatedly locking his toes in the fence.[20]
Solecki was scheduled to face Benoît Saint-Denis on February 18, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 219.[21] However, Saint-Denis withdrew from the bout citing ankle injury.[22] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Carl Deaton III and the bout was moved to UFC Fight Night 220 a week later.[23] Solecki won the fight via technical submission in round two.[24] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.[25]
Solecki faced Nurullo Aliev, replacing Yanal Ashmouz, on January 11, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 249.[30] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[31]
Professional grappling career
Solecki represented Alliance Fighting Championship at UFC Fight Pass Invitational 2 on July 3, 2022.[32] He lost his only match against Dan Manasoiu and the team were knocked out in the opening round.[33]
Solecki submitted Michael Porter with a guillotine choke at Fight 2 Win 248 on March 8, 2024.[34]
Solecki competed against Peter Fazekas at Fury Pro Grappling 11 on November 2, 2024. He won the match by submission.[35]
^"BJJ Athletes – Joe Solecki Biography Interview", BJJ Tribes, August 18, 2020. Accessed February 28, 2023. "Joe Solecki is a BJJ black belt and professional MMA fighter in the UFC. He resides in Wilmington, NC but originally hails from Wenonah, NJ and has been training BJJ since the age of 6 years old."
