UFC Veteran Don’Tale Mayes Faces Uncertain Future After Third-Straight Loss
A teammate of UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, Don’Tale Mayes, is facing an uncertain future in the UFC after suffering a lopsided loss at UFC Des Moines, according to a report by Bloody Elbow. Mayes, a veteran of the Octagon, weighed in at 259lbs on Friday for his 12th appearance in the UFC, but was ultimately outperformed by Thomas ‘The Train’ Petersen.
Standing at 6’6″, Mayes had a significant height advantage over Petersen, but his opponent’s wrestling credentials proved to be the deciding factor in the fight. Petersen, a two-time champion in the state of Minnesota, took Mayes down in the first 30 seconds of the fight and went on to control him for 13:49 of 15:00 total, landing nine takedowns and nearly submitting Mayes with an arm-triangle submission.
The judges’ scores were lopsided, with all three judges giving Petersen a 30-25 scorecard, with one judge scoring two rounds 10-8 due to Petersen’s dominance in the ground and pound. This loss marks Mayes’ third-straight defeat, and his UFC record now stands at 4-7 (1 NC). As Bloody Elbow reports, Mayes has struggled in his last seven fights, with a record of 2-5 (1 NC), and has been unable to go on a winning streak since 2021.
Mayes’ performance has been inconsistent, and with the UFC recently releasing veterans like Brad Tavares, it is possible that Mayes could be next on the chopping block. As noted by Bloody Elbow, Mayes has fought some of the best in the heavyweight division, including former interim champ Ciryl Gane in his debut, but his recent form has been lackluster.
On the other hand, Petersen’s victory marks his second win in the UFC, and he will be looking to build on this momentum. As Bloody Elbow reports, Petersen’s wrestling credentials were the key to his victory, and he will likely look to use this as a foundation for his future fights in the UFC.
In the aftermath of the fight, Mayes’ future in the UFC is uncertain. With a three-fight losing streak and a record of 2-5 (1 NC) in his last seven fights, it is possible that the UFC may choose not to renew his contract. As Bloody Elbow notes, the UFC has been releasing veterans in recent times, and Mayes’ performance may not be enough to secure his spot in the Octagon.
The defeat was a significant one for Mayes, who had been looking to rebound from back-to-back losses to Shamil Gaziev and Valter Valker. As reported by Bloody Elbow, Mayes had joined the UFC heavyweight division in 2019 and had shown promise, but his recent form has been inconsistent.
Photographer Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC captured the action from the fight, which took place at Wells Fargo Arena on May 03, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa. The image of Petersen taking down Mayes during the fight has been making headlines, and will likely be a key moment in Petersen’s future fights.
As reported by Bloody Elbow, Mayes’ loss to Petersen was a dominant one, with Petersen controlling the fight from start to finish. The question now is what the future holds for Mayes in the UFC, and whether he will be able to turn his form around and secure a spot in the Octagon.
According to Bloody Elbow, Mayes and Petersen went the distance, with the judges’ scores reflecting Petersen’s dominance. The win for Petersen marks a significant one, and he will be looking to build on this momentum in his future fights.
The UFC has been releasing veterans in recent times, and Mayes’ performance may not be enough to secure his spot in the Octagon. As noted by Bloody Elbow, Mayes has fought some of the best in the heavyweight division, but his recent form has been inconsistent.
In conclusion, Don’Tale Mayes’ future in the UFC is uncertain after his third-straight loss to Thomas Petersen at UFC Des Moines. As reported by Bloody Elbow, Mayes has struggled in his last seven fights, and his performance may not be enough to secure his spot in the Octagon. The question now is what the future holds for Mayes in the UFC, and whether he will be able to turn his form around and secure a spot in the Octagon.
