Rafael Cerqueira

"The Lion"

MMA Record: 11-4-0
UFC Record: 0-4-0
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight

Rafael Cerqueira "The Lion" - UFC Fighter Profile

Career Highlights: Rafael Cerqueira has 0 wins in the UFC. Rafael Cerqueira lands an average of 1.56 significant strikes per minute .

Fighter Profile

Rafael Cerquiera, a 205-pound fighter with an MMA record of 11-3-0, is set to face Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev at UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker on November 22, 2025. Cerquiera's UFC record stands at 0-4-0, and his most recent fight was just a month ago. His ELO rating is 942, while Yakhyaev's is 1014, making Cerquiera the underdog in this matchup by 72 ELO points.

Statistically, Cerquiera has a takedown accuracy of 0% and a strike accuracy of 44%, averaging 1.61 strikes per minute. In contrast, Yakhyaev boasts a striking accuracy of 88%. Based on the ELO difference and stats comparison, Yakhyaev is favored in this fight due to his superior striking skills and higher ELO rating.

If betting odds are available for this matchup, they would likely favor Yakhyaev, aligning with the ELO prediction that suggests he has a higher probability of winning. However, it's important to note that MMA outcomes can be unpredictable, and other factors such as strategy, mental preparation, and fight-night performance can significantly impact the outcome.

Physical & Background Stats

Height
6' 3'
Weight
Light Heavyweight
Reach
76'
Stance
Southpaw
Date of Birth
Mar 15 1990
Age
35
Peak ELO
985
ELO Rank
2608 of 2646
Strength of Schedule
48-11-0
Combined record of UFC opponents
Avg ELO of Opponents
1018.8
Avg ELO of Defeated Opponents
N/A

Performance Statistics

SLpM
1.56
Significant Strikes Landed per Minute
Str. Acc.
43%
Significant Striking Accuracy
SApM
5.05
Significant Strikes Absorbed per Minute
Str. Def.
36%
Significant Strike Defence
TD Avg.
Average Takedowns per 15 minutes
TD Acc.
Takedown Accuracy
Sub. Avg.
Average Submissions per 15 minutes

Rafael Cerqueira Fight History

Date Event Opponent Method Round Time Result Odds
2025-11-22 UFC Fight Night: Tsarukyan vs. Hooker Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev SUB Rear Naked Choke 1 0:33 Loss +900
2025-08-09 UFC Fight Night: Dolidze vs. Hernandez Julius Walker U-DEC 3 5:00 Loss +525
2025-02-22 UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Song Modestas Bukauskas KO/TKO Punches 1 2:12 Loss -
2024-10-26 UFC 308: Topuria vs. Holloway Ibo Aslan KO/TKO Punches 1 0:51 Loss -

Rafael Cerqueira ELO Rating Calculation

Fight # Date Opponent Name Opponent ELO Result ELO Gained ELO
4 2025-11-22 Abdul Rakhman Yakhyaev 1000 Loss -14 942
3 2025-08-09 Julius Walker 1000 Loss -15 956
2 2025-02-22 Modestas Bukauskas 1029 Loss -14 971
1 2024-10-26 Ibo Aslan 1019 Loss -15 985

Division Ranking by ELO

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GOAT Division Ranking by ELO

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