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Tom Nolan (fighter)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tom Nolan
BornThomas Joseph Nolan
(2000-03-08) March 8, 2000 (age 26)
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Other namesBig Train
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb)
DivisionLightweight
Reach73 in (185 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofBrisbane, Australia
TeamTeam Compton Training Centre
Years active2020–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total12
Wins11
By knockout5
By submission1
By decision5
Losses1
By knockout1
Other information
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Thomas Joseph Nolan (born 8 March 2000) is an Australian professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of 3 August 2026, he is #11 in the Meta UFC lightweight rankings.

Early life

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Nolan was born on 8 March 2000, and is from Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.[2][3][4] He grew up playing rugby league, and his brother had tryouts with National Rugby League (NRL) teams.[5] Nolan played for the Toowoomba Clydesdales and was a tearaway backrower.[5] To become a better defender in rugby, he started training in wrestling and jujutsu, later competing in mixed martial arts events.[5] After three MMA fights, Nolan decided at the age of 15 to focus on MMA instead of rugby.[5]

Mixed martial arts career

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Early career

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Nolan began his MMA career as an amateur, compiling a record of eight wins and one loss.[6] Trained by Elijah Kennedy and Zac Talbot in Toowoomba, and a member of the Integrated Martial Arts Gym, Nolan was a two-time champion of the XFC Australia promotion and also competed under Eternal MMA during his amateur career.[2][6] He was also employed by the plumbing business run by his brother, Luke.[6]

Nolan made his professional debut on December 12, 2020, at XFC 46, defeating Sam Flint by unanimous decision.[2] His next fight was at Eternal MMA 63, against Trevor Sinclair, on November 20, 2021.[2] Nolan won by unanimous decision.[6] He followed it by three more wins under the Eternal MMA promotion, all by technical knockout (TKO) and two in the first round.[2]

Dana White's Contender Series

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Nolan competed at Dana White's Contender Series season 7 against Bogdan Grad on August 8, 2023. He won in the first round with a knockout punch and then was awarded the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) contract.[7] Dana White called Nolan a "straight killer" and Paul Felder said his knockout punch against Grad was "one of the most deadly shots I've seen in a long time".[7]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

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Nolan made his UFC debut on January 13, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 234, against Nikolas Motta.[8][9] He lost the fight for the first time in his career by TKO in the first round.[10]

Nolan faced Victor Martinez on May 18, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 241.[11] He won the fight via technical knockout with through a knee to the body and punches in round one.[12]

Nolan faced Alex Reyes on August 17, 2024, at UFC 305.[13] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[14]

Nolan faced Viacheslav Borshchev on February 9, 2025, at UFC 312.[15] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]

Nolan was scheduled to face Evan Elder on September 28, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 260.[17] However, Elder pulled out and was replaced by Charlie Campbell.[18] He won the fight via a rear-naked choke in round one.[19] This fight earned him his first Performance of the Night award.[20]

Nolan faces Farès Ziam on June 6, 2026, at UFC Fight Night 278.[21] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[22]

Championships and accomplishments

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
12 matches 11 wins 1 loss
By knockout 5 1
By submission 1 0
By decision 5 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 11–1 Farès Ziam Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Muhammad vs. Bonfim June 6, 2026 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 10–1 Charlie Campbell Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Ulberg vs. Reyes September 28, 2025 1 4:08 Perth, Australia Performance of the Night.
Win 9–1 Viacheslav Borshchev Decision (unanimous) UFC 312 February 9, 2025 2 4:58 Sydney, Australia
Win 8–1 Alex Reyes Decision (unanimous) UFC 305 August 17, 2024 3 5:00 Perth, Australia
Win 7–1 Victor Martinez TKO (knee to the body and punches) UFC Fight Night: Barboza vs. Murphy May 18, 2024 1 3:50 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 6–1 Nikolas Motta TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2 January 13, 2024 1 1:03 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 6–0 Bogdan Grad KO (punches) Dana White's Contender Series 57 August 8, 2023 1 1:23 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 5–0 Aidan Aguilera TKO (knee and punches) Eternal MMA 74 March 18, 2023 1 2:22 Southport, Australia
Win 4–0 Adam Cook TKO (punches) Eternal MMA 72 December 2, 2022 2 3:58 Gold Coast, Australia
Win 3–0 Niam Stephen TKO (punches) Eternal MMA 67 July 16, 2022 1 3:54 Gold Coast, Australia
Win 2–0 Trevor Sinclair Decision (unanimous) Eternal MMA 63 November 20, 2021 3 5:00 Gold Coast, Australia
Win 1–0 Sam Flint Decision (unanimous) XFC 46 December 12, 2020 3 5:00 Brisbane, Australia Lightweight debut.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Tom "Big Train" Nolan". Sherdog. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Hardwick, Peter (22 December 2021). "Tom Nolan signs two-year deal with US management company Ruby Sports & Entertainment". The Toowoomba Chronicle.
  4. ↑ Maher, Toby (29 July 2026). "Tom Nolan: The fighter behind 'It's Just Another Fight'". AustralianMMA.com.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Walshaw, Nick (5 December 2023). "'I want him unconscious': Meet the 'straight killer' who quit his NRL dream for hyped UFC debut". Fox Sports.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Hardwick, Peter (November 23, 2021). "Toowoomba MMA fighter Tom 'Big Train' Nolan scores best win of career so far". The Toowoomba Chronicle.
  7. 1 2 Walshaw, Nick (9 August 2023). "'Most deadly shot I've seen': Tom Nolan earns UFC shot with brutal KO of 'trash-talking' Insta troll". Fox Sports.
  8. ↑ Bradford, Brendan (12 January 2024). "UFC 300: Tom 'Big Train' Nolan has huge plans for 2024 as he prepares for his debut". Code Sports.
  9. ↑ Walshaw, Nick (12 January 2024). "'I guarantee it': Ex-NRL hopeful's bold promise ahead of UFC debut amid heartwarming $3k gift". Fox Sports.
  10. ↑ Bitter, Shawn (2024-01-13). "UFC Vegas 84: Nikolas Motta Floors Tom Nolan Early". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  11. ↑ Martinez, Diego (2024-03-07). "Victor Martinez vs. Tom Nolan incluido al UFC Vegas 92 - MMA AL DÍA" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  12. ↑ Dewar, Val (2024-05-18). "UFC Vegas 92: Tom Nolan Scores Big Finish of Victor Martinez". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  13. ↑ Hester, Bryson (2024-05-23). "UFC 305 Books its First Bout, Lightweights Tom Nolan and Alex Reyes to Meet". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  14. ↑ Dewar, Val (2024-08-17). "UFC 305: Tom Nolan Shows High Output in Comfortable Win Over Alex Reyes". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  15. ↑ Jed Meshew (2024-12-15). "UFC 312: Action-packed lightweight scrap added to Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland 2 fight card". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  16. ↑ Cagle, Brett (2025-02-08). "UFC 312: Tom Nolan Stops Slava Claus From Delivering in Australia". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  17. ↑ Staff (2025-08-05). "UFC Perth: aussie stars Crute, Tafa & Nolan on Sept 27–28 fight card". australianmma.com.au. Retrieved 2025-09-17.
  18. ↑ Hamish Woodward (2025-09-18). "UFC Perth full fight card as Carlos Ulberg headlines against a football player-turned-fighter in Australia". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved 2025-09-18.
  19. ↑ Cagle, Brett (2025-09-27). "UFC Perth: Tom Nolan Subs Charlie Campbell, Extends Win Streak". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  20. 1 2 Dan Hiergesell (2025-09-28). "Bonuses! Ulberg, Crute lead hometown surge, earn $50K each UFC Perth". mmamania.com. Retrieved 2025-09-28.
  21. ↑ "UFC Fight Night Card Adds Fan-Friendly Scrap Featuring Divisional Dark Horse". MMA Knockout On SI. 2026-04-14. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
  22. ↑ Cagle, Brett (2026-06-06). "UFC Vegas 118: Tom Nolan Snaps Fares Ziam's Win Streak, Extends Own". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
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