Phil “Megatron” Hawes (9-2) was supposed to be the second coming of UFC all-time great Jon Jones. They wrestled at the same junior college, Iowa Central, and in 2009 Hawes captured the same national title that Jones won three years prior. Comparisons between the two naturally commenced, however, Phil Hawes’ MMA journey has taken a vastly different path.
32-year-old Hawes was born in 1989 in Little Ferry, New Jersey, in the shadows of Manhattan across the Hudson River. Phil grew up wrestling and found the bright lights once he arrived at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, an hour and a half north of State Capital Des Moines. Iowa Central is a powerhouse on the national scene of junior college wrestling. In addition to Hawes and Jones, former UFC Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, UFC Welterweight Interim champ Colby Covington, and Bellator Featherweight champ Joe Soto have all taken home a title for the Iowa Central wrestling wall.
When Phil Hawes announced he was leaving the singlet for some Tapout MMA shorts, the expectations for his new career were sky-high. “Megatron” got the hype train into gear with four straight finishes to start his career. The Ultimate Fighter Season 23 recruited Phil in 2016, and many thought he should be considered the favorite to emerge with the UFC contract. However, Hawes had trouble with eventual winner Andrew Sanchez (UFC MW now 12-5) bowing out in the preliminary round.
2016 into 2017 were dark days for Phil, defeated twice in the cage and losing a whole lot more outside it. Phil and his family tragically lost their daughter Amira to sudden infant death syndrome. Hawes took time away from the cage to reassess more than fighting, coming back two years later in 2019 with a different type of desire. He starched three opponents in a row and earned a second shot at a UFC contract through Dana White’s Contender Series.
After another highlight-reel knockout, Hawes left the Apex Center in Las Vegas with his golden ticket. He flew straight to Fight Island and took his first fight one month later. In Abu Dhabi, Phil Hawes extended his win streak to five, earning an 18 second KO. The former can’t-miss prospect has cemented his status as a UFC middleweight with all the tools necessary. Megatron is must-see TV and he’s back in the cage facing Nassourdine Imavov (9-2) at UFC Fight Island 7.
Phil “Megatron” Hawes | 9-2 | 5’11 185 lbs. | Age 32 | Reach 77.5” | Orthodox Stance | Fighting Out of North Bergen, New Jersey
Check out our highlights on fellow UFC Fight Island 7 fighters >
Nassourdine “Russian Sniper” Imavov
Find Phil “Megatron” Hawes on social media > @PhillipHawes5
