Austen Lane (born November 9, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist competing in the UFC’s heavyweight division. Raised in Iola, Wisconsin, Lane excelled in multiple sports before focusing on football. He attended Murray State University, where he became an All-American defensive end and set school records in sacks and tackles for loss. He entered the NFL in 2010 as a fifth-round pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars, spending four seasons as a starter and later joining other teams before retiring around 2015.
MMA Career
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Amateur to Regional Circuit: Lane debuted in amateur MMA in November 2015 and quickly built a 5–0 record, all by knockout. He turned professional in April 2017 and started 4–0, all first-round finishes.
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Dana White’s Contender Series: After a 2018 loss to Greg Hardy, Lane returned to regional competition. In September 2022, he earned a UFC contract with a first-round TKO victory over Richard Jacobi.
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UFC Tenure: He debuted in June 2023 with a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke. His first UFC win came in October 2024 against Robelis Despaigne by unanimous decision. Subsequent bouts include a second-round knockout loss in April 2024 and a third UFC defeat in March 2025.