Deron Winn (6-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC)
Middleweight (185lbs): 1-2 (UFC) Missed weight 1 time
Catchweight (190): 1-0 (MMA)
Catchweight (192): 1-0 (MMA)
Light Heavyweight (205lbs): 3-0 (MMA)
Deron Winn is a wrestler from the highly talented American Kickboxing Academy. Deron has a body type much like his former trainer partner, former UFC double champion Daniel Cormier. Winn is short in stature, standing at about 5’6″ and with a 71″ reach. Winn uses his high-level wrestling to control fights and his low center of gravity is actually very advantageous. During Winn’s wrestling career he competed predominately at 86kg (190lbs) and 97kg (214lbs) for his collegiate career as well as while competing in the US World Team Trials, US Open and Pan American Games.
Winn has struggled mightily with his weight cut and in his five professional fights before debuting in the UFC he always fought at a heavier weight than at 185lbs. Winn has been the most successful in the light heavyweight division as evidenced by his win over (his most experienced opponent pre-UFC competition) Tom Lawlor in late 2018, in what would be his final fight before entering the UFC.
Winn missed weight ahead of his second UFC bout against Darren Stewart in October of 2019. To add insult to injury Winn lost a split decision in his bout with Stewart the following day.
After getting submitted by Gerald Meerschaert midway thru the final round of his most recent fight back in March, Winn competed in a wrestling match for Chael Sonnen’s Underground Wrestling I. Deron competed at 213lbs for the match, which really shows just how big the UFC middleweight is outside of training camp.
For UFC Vegas 17 both Winn and his opponent Antonio Arroyo have been plagued with weight cutting issues in the past, and as a result, the bout will take place at a catchweight of 195lbs. This is especially for Winn, as the 5’6″ middleweight fighter was recently suspended by USADA after testing positive for amphetamines (presumably to aid in his weight cut) for his fight against Gerald Meerschaert.
