Modestas Bukauskas is a professional mixed martial artist from Lithuania, competing in the light heavyweight division. Known by his nickname “The Baltic Gladiator,” Bukauskas has fought in several prestigious promotions, including the UFC and Cage Warriors, where he won the Cage Warriors Light Heavyweight Championship.
You can follow Modestas Bukauskas’s biography, personal details, career overview, net worth, fight purses, records, achievements, and more here.
Modestas Bukauskas’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Modestas Bukauskas |
| Nickname | The Baltic Gladiator |
| Birth Date | February 10, 1994 |
| Height | 6’3″ (190.5 cm) |
| Weight | 204 lbs (92.99 kg) |
| Birthplace | Kaunas, Lithuania |
| Nationality | Lithuanian |
| Professional Debut | 2015 |
| Current Net Worth | $1 million |
| Residence | Louisiana, USA |
| Training Team | Gintas Combat |
| Fighting Stance | Switch |
| Reach | 78 inches (198 cm) |
Early Career
Growing up in Klaipėda, Lithuania, Bukauskas was immersed in combat sports from the start. His father, a former Soviet no-holds-barred heavyweight champion, relocated the family to the UK when Modestas was three.
Under his dad’s guidance, he began training in kickboxing at age five and quickly showed a natural aptitude for striking and athleticism. By his early teens, Bukauskas had claimed four British kickboxing titles across youth divisions, mastering both orthodox and southpaw stances as a stand-out switch fighter.
After balancing sambo, tennis and a brief stint playing basketball in the United States, he refocused on mixed martial arts at 18. In 2015, he made his professional MMA debut in England, stopping Arvydas Juska by unanimous decision.
Over the next few years, he collected nine more wins-eight by finish-across regional promotions like Ultimate Challenge MMA and FightStar Championship. His aggressive style and finishing instinct caught the eyes of Cage Warriors matchmakers.
June 2019 marked his breakthrough at Cage Warriors 106 when he dethroned Norway’s seven-time wrestling champ Marthin Hamlet with a fourth-round knockout. That first world title was swiftly followed by a spectacular first-round elbow finish of Riccardo Nosiglia at Cage Warriors 111, cementing Bukauskas as a two-time light heavyweight champion and a must-watch talent on the continental circuit. With a 12–2 record and highlight-reel knockouts to his name, he earned an invitation to join the UFC roster in mid-2020.
Professional Career
Bukauskas debuted in the UFC on short notice in July 2020, stepping in to face Andreas Michailidis. After landing a barrage of elbows in round one, Michailidis couldn’t continue, handing Bukauskas a fast TKO and the distinction of being the first Lithuanian to win in UFC history. The performance earned him a well-deserved Performance of the Night bonus and raised expectations for a rising star from Eastern Europe.
His next outing, however, was less smooth. In October 2020 he squared off with Australia’s Jimmy Crute and suffered a first-round KO. That setback kicked off a challenging stretch: a split-decision loss to Michał Oleksiejczuk at UFC 260, followed by a tough defeat to Khalil Rountree Jr. in September 2021, when an oblique kick ended the fight and caused a leg injury. After three straight defeats, the UFC released Bukauskas in October 2021.
Rather than derail his trajectory, the roster exit fueled a comeback. Following knee surgery, he returned to Cage Warriors in late 2022 and earned back-to-back victories-first a unanimous decision over Lee Chadwick, then a fourth-round KO of Chuck Campbell to recapture the light heavyweight title.
Those performances prompted the UFC to re-sign him for UFC 284 in February 2023, where he edged Tyson Pedro by unanimous decision on two weeks’ notice in Australia.
Since re-joining the UFC, Bukauskas has traded wins and losses but continuously showcased improved wrestling, takedown defense and a more rounded skill set. He outpointed Zac Pauga in June 2023, fell by KO to Vitor Petrino in November 2023, then rebounded with a slick arm-triangle choke over Marcin Prachnio at UFC 304.
Most recently at UFC 315 in May 2025, he secured a narrow split-decision win over Ion Cuțelaba, underscoring his determination to climb the divisional rankings.
Wife
Modestas Bukauskas has been in a committed relationship with Sacha Jade Lowe, who often travels with him to fight camps and events. A fitness enthusiast herself, Sacha supports his rigorous training schedule and recovery routines.
The couple shares a close circle of friends in the combat sports community, and although they have no children yet, they frequently speak about building a family once Bukauskas’s fighting goals are achieved.
In interviews, he credits her encouragement during career highs and lows, noting that her steady presence has been key to maintaining focus outside the cage.
Modestas Bukauskas’s Net Worth Details
Modestas Bukauskas’s net worth is estimated to be $1 million as of 2025.
This figure reflects his earnings from fight purses, sponsorships, and other related income streams within the mixed martial arts industry.
Fight Purses
| Event | Date | Total Earnings |
| UFC Fight Night 191 | September 5, 2021 | $13,500 |
| UFC Fight Night 191 | September 5, 2021 | $4,500 |
| UFC 284 | February 12, 2023 | $20,000 |
| UFC Fight Night: Rountree vs. Bukauskas | March 2021 | $12,000 |
| Cage Warriors 100 | December 2018 | $10,000 |
| Cage Warriors Championship | July 2018 | $15,000 |
Career Stats
| Statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Fights | 24 |
| Wins | 18 |
| – By Knockout | 10 |
| – By Submission | 3 |
| – By Decision | 5 |
| Losses | 6 |
| – By Knockout | 4 |
| – By Submission | 1 |
| – By Decision | 1 |
FAQs
1. What is Modestas Bukauskas’s overall MMA record?
Modestas Bukauskas has competed in 24 professional bouts, with an 18-6 record. He’s scored ten victories by knockout, three by submission and five by decision, showcasing a capacity for both power finishes and technical fights.
2. How did he become a two-time Cage Warriors champion?
After debuting in 2015, he fought through the UK scene and earned his first Cage Warriors title by knocking out Marthin Hamlet in the fourth round at Cage Warriors 106. He later lost and then regained the title in December 2022 by defeating Chuck Campbell via fourth-round knockout.
3. When did Bukauskas achieve his first UFC win and did he earn a bonus?
On July 16, 2020, he debuted against Andreas Michailidis and won by first-round TKO thanks to a series of elbows. That performance earned him the UFC’s Performance of the Night bonus.
4. What injury setbacks has Bukauskas faced in the UFC?
Khalil Rountree Jr.’s oblique kick injured Bukauskas’s front leg, leading to a TKO loss. He also underwent knee surgery shortly afterward, causing a year-long layoff before returning to Cage Warriors.
5. Who is Sacha Jade Lowe and what role does she play in his career?
Sacha Jade Lowe is Bukauskas’s partner and a key support figure. She travels to fight camps, aids in his recovery work and offers emotional encouragement. He credits her steady presence for helping him maintain balance during intense training cycles.
