Lance Palmer

 ( 1988 Births ) 

Over his career, Palmer compiled a 121–33 record and became a four-time NCAA Division I All-American, one-time NCAA finalist and one-time Big Ten Champion. He defeated notable opponents such as future Olympic Gold Medalist and 2x NCAA Champion Jordan Burroughs, NCAA Champion and future Olympian Frank Molinaro, future NCAA Champion and MMA Fighter Bubba Jenkins, former NCAA Champion (later two-time) Brent Metcalf and University Freestyle National Champion Jason Chamberlain

On June 16, 2020, Palmer was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame for his legendary collegiate wrestling career.

He competed at RAF 01 on August 30, 2025, losing to Austin Gomez.

Palmer then competed at RAF 05 on January 11, 2026 in Sunrise, USA, losing to Arman Tsarukyan by 10-0 Technical Fall.

On June 21, 2014, Palmer faced Nick LoBasco at . He won via rear naked choke submission in the first round.

On December 13, 2014, Palmer challenged Rick Glenn for the WSOF Featherweight Championship at . He won via rear naked choke submission in the third round to become the WSOF Featherweight Champion.

On June 5, 2015, Palmer made his first defense of the WSOF Featherweight Championship at against IFL and WEC veteran Chris Horodecki. He won via neck crank submission in the first round to retain the WSOF Featherweight Championship.

On December 18, 2015, Palmer made the second defense of the WSOF Featherweight Championship at against Alexandre Almeida. He lost via unanimous decision.

On May 10, 2016, it was announced that Palmer will have a rematch against Alexandre Almeida for the WSOF Featherweight Championship at on July 30, 2016 in the co-main event. He won via unanimous decision to become a two time WSOF Featherweight Champion.

On June 30, 2016, Palmer fought Andre Harrison in for the first title defense of his second reign as champion at in the co-main event. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Palmer then competed in the inaugural season of the Professional Fighters League. He fought on at the first event of the new format at PFL 1 in the Featherweight division. On June 7, 2018, he faced Bekbulat Magomedov and won the fight by second round submission. On July 19, 2018, Palmer fought Jumabieke Tuerxun at PFL 4. He won the fight by third round submission.

In the fall of 2018, Palmer entered the PFL Featherweight tournament as the second seed. At PFL 8 on October 5, 2018, he defeated Max Coga by unanimous decision in the quarterfinal round and then rematched Andre Harrison and earned unanimous decision win in the semifinal round.

Palmer fought another rematch against Steven Siler in the finals at PFL 11 on December 31, 2018. He won the fight via unanimous decision, winning the PFL Featherweight tournament and earning the $1 million cash prize.

In the second round Palmer faced Luis Rafael Laurentino at PFL 5 on July 25, 2019. He won the fight via third-round TKO and advanced to the playoffs.

Palmer next faced Alexandre de Almeida and Alex Gilpin at PFL 8 on October 17, 2019. He won both fights by unanimous decision. He was expected to face Daniel Pineda in the Featherweight tournament finals, but after Pineda failed a drug test after PFL 8, Palmer was set to face Alex Gilpin in the finals again.

Palmer and Gilpin faced each other for the third time during the season at PFL 10 on December 31, 2019. Palmer implemented his grappling-heavy fight style, winning the bout via unanimous decision and claiming his second PFL Featherweight tournament victory.

Palmer faced 2011 NCAA Division I champion Bubba Jenkins on April 23, 2021 at PFL 1. He lost for the first time during his PFL run via unanimous decision.

Palmer was scheduled to face Lazar Stojadinovic at PFL 4 on June 10, 2021. However, on May 24, it was announced that Stojadinovic had to pull out of the bout and was replaced by Jesse Stirn. A day before the event, Palmer was pulled and rescheduled to face Movlid Khaybulaev on June 25, 2021 at PFL 6. He lost the bout via unanimous decision, eliminating Palmer from the playoffs for the first time in his PFL career.

Palmer faced Sheymon Moraes on June 24, 2022 at PFL 5. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Moving up to Lightweight, Palmer faced Alexey Polpudnikov on May 17, 2024 at , losing by TKO stoppage in the second round.

Palmer’s high school career was documented in the movie "Pinned."

Palmer and his fiancée Jessie have a daughter, Maya (born 2021).

• Professional Fighters League
• 2018 PFL Featherweight Championship
• 2019 PFL Featherweight Championship
• Resurrection Fighting Alliance
• RFA Featherweight Championship (One time)
• World Series of Fighting
• WSOF Featherweight Championship (Two times)
• One Successful Title Defense

• National Collegiate Athletic Association
• Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee (2020)
• NCAA Division I All-American out of Ohio State University (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)
• NCAA Division I 149 lbs - 4th place out of Ohio State University (2007)
• NCAA Division I 149 lbs - 8th place out of Ohio State University (2008)
• NCAA Division I 149 lbs - 4th place out of Ohio State University (2009)
• NCAA Division I 149 lbs - 2nd place out of Ohio State University (2010)
• Big Ten Conference
• B1G 149 lbs - 3rd place out of Ohio State University (2007)
• B1G 149 lbs - 6th place out of Ohio State University (2008)
• B1G 149 lbs - 3rd place out of Ohio State University (2009)
• B1G 149 lbs - 1st place out of Ohio State University (2010)

• Ohio High School Athletic Association
• OHSAA 103 lb Division I State Champion out of St. Edward High School (2003)
• OHSAA 112 lb Division I State Champion out of St. Edward High School (2004)
• OHSAA 125 lb Division I State Champion out of St. Edward High School (2005)
• OHSAA 140 lb Division I State Champion out of St. Edward High School (2006)

• List of male mixed martial artists

• Lance Palmer at PFL