Can Greek fighter Andreas Michailidis reclaim his spot in 2026?

Andreas Michailidis stands at a career crossroad. The 37-year-old Greek mixed martial artist, who made history as the first Greece-based fighter to compete in the UFC, is currently on a three-fight losing streak that has tested his resolve like never before. But the real question is: does the former tournament finalist still have what it takes to compete at the elite level of Europe, or has age and accumulated damage finally caught up with Greece’s MMA pioneer?

Andreas Michailidis: The brutal reality of recent defeats

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Michailidis’ recent performances paint a concerning picture. His most recent outing on February 22, 2025, saw him submit via guillotine choke by Mark Hulme at Oktagon 67 in just 2 minutes and 20 seconds. It wasn’t even close. Before that, he dropped a split decision to Piotr Wawrzyniak at Oktagon 59 in July 2024, and lost via rear-naked choke to Bojan Veličković in the Tipsport Gamechanger tournament final on December 29, 2023.

What’s particularly troubling isn’t just the losses in and of themselves, but how they happened. Two submissions and one grinding decision suggest Michailidis might be showing some vulnerabilities in areas where he has traditionally been strong. Getting caught in submissions twice in three fights for a BJJ black belt with a wrestling background raises serious questions about whether his grappling game is declining or the competition has simply evolved past him.

But context matters here. These weren’t gimme fights. The Tipsport Gamechanger tournament represents the absolute pinnacle of European MMA, with a €1 million prize that attracts the best middleweights on the continent. And remember, Michailidis earned his spot in that final by absolutely destroying opponents; he knocked out Louis Glismann in just 33 seconds and then submitted Marcel Grabinski with an arm-triangle choke. So what changed between September 2023 and now?

Andreas Michailidis’s legacy lives on

You can’t talk about Michailidis’ future without mentioning his past, as his tenure from 2020 to 2022 inside the UFC put Greek MMA on the international map in ways that are hard to overstate. Sure, his record there was mixed, but look at who he faced: Alex Pereira, now the UFC light heavyweight champion, knocked him out at UFC 268; Rinat Fakhretdinov outpointed him in a tough decision that wasn’t an easy matchup; those were legitimate contenders and future champions.

Michailidis’ UFC appearances generated a lot of interest back home in Greece, where combat sports betting has traditionally been limited due to strict regulations. That’s why foreign bookies accepting Greek players have offered more markets on Greek fighters competing internationally, reflecting a growing appetite among Greek fans to support their athletes on the global stage. This international exposure matters because it shows there is still a fanbase that remembers what the Spartans accomplished and would rally behind a comeback.

His professional record of 16-9 tells a story of a legitimate finisher: seven knockouts, six submissions, and only three decision wins. When Michailidis wins, he doesn’t leave it to the judges. That killer instinct hasn’t completely disappeared, even if we haven’t seen it lately.

What needs to change for 2026

It isn’t just a number in combat sports; it’s a mathematical equation where recovery time goes up and explosiveness goes down. At 37, Michailidis isn’t ancient by MMA standards, the great Glover Teixeira won the UFC light heavyweight title at 42-but he most definitely falls into the danger zone where physical decline goes into rapid acceleration.

The technical issues are fixable, though. His recent submission losses suggest either his defensive grappling has deteriorated or he’s making tactical errors under pressure. Training at EFL Martial Arts Academy in Athens under coach Dimitris “Mohou” Papakonstantinou has served him well historically, but perhaps it is time for a training camp shakeup. Sometimes fighters benefit from fresh perspectives and different sparring partners who can expose weaknesses in controlled environments.

His finish rate, at around 81% with 13 finishes in 16 wins, proves the tools are still there. But tools rust without maintenance and proper application. Michailidis needs to rediscover the aggressive, pressure-fighting style that made him dangerous rather than fighting conservatively like someone trying not to lose.

Andreas Michailidis: The realistic 2026 outlook

But, in actuality, what does 2026 hold for the Greek veteran? Oktagon MMA is still likely to be his home, considering the quality matchmaking and good exposure of the promotion’s European circuit. Still, he cannot afford another loss. Three consecutive defeats are a concern; four is a crisis that significantly diminishes future opportunities.

The good news? Oktagon’s deep middleweight roster means there are winnable fights available. Not easy fights, this isn’t a regional show where promoters feed aging veterans cupcakes, but matchups against opponents who aren’t necessarily superior to Michailidis on paper.

His legacy as an MMA pioneer for Greece is an intangible motivator that cannot be ignored, either. Being the guy who opened the doors for future Greek fighters means something. That sense of purpose and national pride can fuel comebacks that pure athletic ability alone cannot achieve.

Can Andreas Michailidis make his way back into the elite of Europe in 2026? 

The honest answer would be: maybe, but the window is closing fast. The skillset is there, the experience is there, and the name recognition is there. In question is whether his body can still do what his mind remembers, and whether psychological scar tissue from three consecutive losses is more difficult to overcome than physical damage. 

His next fight, whenever and wherever it happens, will tell us everything we need to know. Win impressively, and we’ll talk about the Spartans’ resurgence. But lose again, and it might be time for Greece’s MMA pioneer to consider hanging up the gloves while he can still walk away on his own terms.