Austin Hubbard wants to make waves in the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division and appears to have the requisite tools to do so.
The emerging Elevation Fight Team export will face Vinc Pichel in a three-round UFC on ESPN 29 showcase this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, where he seeks back-to-back victories for the first time in nearly three years. Hubbard, 29, owns a 3-3 record inside the Octagon. He last competed at UFC on ESPN 22, where he was awarded a unanimous decision over Dakota Bush on April 17.
As Hubbard approaches his pivotal battle with Pichel at 155 pounds, here are five things you might not know about him:
1. He grew up west in the shadows the Windy City.
Hubbard was born on Dec. 22, 1991 in Sterling, Illinois—a city of some 15,000 people located 117 miles to the west of Chicago. Once known as the “Hardware Capital of the World,” it has produced no fewer than four MLB pitchers: Steve Eddy, Dan Kolb, Mike Foltynewicz and Jakob Junis.
2. The minor leagues treated him well.
The Illinois native made his professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 23, as he submitted Deven Fisher at a Caged Aggression event in August 2015. Hubbard eventually blossomed into a star on the regional scene, capturing championships in the Caged Aggression, Sparta Combat League, Hoosier Fight Club and Legacy Fighting Alliance organizations. Those efforts—and his 10-2 record—drew the attention of the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2019.
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3. None of his setbacks raise red flags.
Only five men have defeated Hubbard: Joe Solecki, Mark O. Madsen, Davi Ramos, Eric Wisely and Sean McMurray. They own a combined record of 69-16-1.
4. Consistent inconsistency has marked his time in the Octagon.
Hubbard joined the UFC roster with a unanimous decision defeat to Ramos a little more than two years ago and has alternated wins and losses in all six of his appearances with the company. Traction has proven to be elusive for the Denver-based lightweight.5. He has been something of a homebody.
“Thud” has never fought outside of North America. In fact, all but one of Hubbard’s professional bouts have taken place in the United States. The lone exception? He took a unanimous verdict from Kyle Prepolec at UFC Fight Night 158 on Sept. 14, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia.