Who is Daniel Zellhuber? Exploring the Mexican star's record, coaching staff, relationship status, and more ahead of Noche UFC 306
Daniel Zellhuber has garnered widespread praise for his exciting fighting style. The 25-year-old is scheduled to face fellow a Dana White's Contender Series alum in Argentina's Esteban Ribovics in a lightweight bout. The showdown will be featured on the main card of UFC 306 (Riyadh Season Noche UFC).
The event takes place at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A., this Saturday, Sept. 14. It'll boast a Mexican Independence Day theme and will be the second-ever Noche UFC card, honoring Mexican fighters.
Zellhuber is counted among Mexico's brightest MMA prospects and will look to steal the show at the UFC's 'one and done' Sphere event.
Who is Daniel Zellhuber?
Daniel Zellhuber, who was born in Mexico City, Mexico, in July 1999, made his professional MMA debut in Sept. 2016. He's competed in the lightweight and welterweight divisions, in addition to a lone 163-pound catchweight bout. His pro MMA record stands at 15-1.
Speaking to the UFC earlier this year, Zellhuber highlighted that being bullied pushed him to take up MMA at a young age. Entering the professional ranks as a 17-year-old, he eventually realized he could become a full-time MMA fighter. He notably traveled to other countries like Thailand and Brazil, gaining valuable experience.
Zellhuber trains at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas. One of his Instagram posts in Aug. 2024 featured him with Eric Nicksick, whom he's often seen with and primarily trains with. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Zellhuber recently asserted that simply training in Vegas wasn't enough.
Zellhuber explained that he's sought out various coaches' guidance, including Jorge Masvidal's boxing coach Jorge Capetillo, Francis Ngannou's striking coach Dewey Cooper, and Hector Vasquez.
Daniel Zellhuber entered the UFC via the UFC-affiliated DWCS. He defeated Lucas Almeida via unanimous decision at DWCS 41 in Sept. 2021. The victory earned him a UFC contract, following which he made his main roster debut by suffering a unanimous decision defeat against Trey Ogden in Sept. 2022.
'Golden Boy' bounced back with three consecutive victories, with his most recent being a unanimous decision win over Francisco Prado this past February. He also competed at the inaugural Noche UFC event last year, scoring a Performance of the Night bonus with a second-round submission victory against Christos Giagos.
Intriguingly, after Zellhuber's DWCS victory over Almeida, UFC CEO Dana White showered praises on both fighters. Lauding the young Zellhuber's well-rounded skill set and iron chin, White said:
"This dude fights like a real Mexican. He's awesome. I love everything about him."
As for Daniel Zellhuber's personal life, it's believed that he's in a relationship with the Mexico-based Vane Medero. Their individual Instagram handles comprise several posts featuring each other. Heading into 2021, Medero had notably posted an image of themselves, noting that it was the last image of the year with her partner.
In a post in Oct. 2023, Medero asserted her love and respect for Daniel Zellhuber, indicating that they'd been together for three years. In an Instagram post back in May of this year, Zellhuber wished his partner a happy birthday and emphasized that he loves her. 'Golden Boy' alluded to their mutual support through thick and thin and touched upon making their own story.