Before there were fierce Dagestani fighters such as Khabib Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov, and Islam Makhachev, Hispanic fighters ruled the octágono (octagon). Fans who’ve just started watching MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), specifically UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), may barely know them. And that, I believe, is quite unfair to the rich history of Hispanic boxers.
For me, the Hispanic athletes are the herencia (heritage) of MMA and UFC. In addition, people who’ve been watching MMA and UFC for decades know how fierce Hispanic fighters were inside the octagon. Also, what distinguished them from the rest wasn’t their fighting style but the intensity with which they played this sport.
Below, I’m going to discuss some of the very best Hispanic fighters embracing this sport. Plus, it’s a must-read for any MMA or UFC fan clueless about the Hispanic boxers.
Top 5 Hispanic UFC Fighters
Yair Rodriguez
Origin: Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico
Record: 16W-5L-0D (1 NC)
Weight Class: Featherweight Category
UFC Debut: November 15, 2014
Arguably, Yair is one of the best, if not the best, Hispanic athletes in the categoría de peso pluma (featherweight category). Yair’s record simply speaks for itself, as he’s been beaten only 5 times since his professional debut.
If I were to talk about the highlight of his career, it’d surely be his match against Alex Volkanovski in 2023. It was a heartbreak for Yair’s fans (including me), as he was completely noqueado (knocked out) by Volkanovski. Yair failed to compete at the highest level again, as he did not get more opportunities.
That said, time is on Yair’s side as he is only 32 years old and has plenty of gas left to go on for a few more years.
Tidbit: The Hispanic UFC fighters are gradually regaining their lost position, and this year, we may see a lot of them in the octagon. So, to ensure you do not miss a beat of acción en vivo (live action), fix your internet if it is not already fixed. Thanks to Cox, I can seamlessly stream all the fights without any hiccups with Cox servicio al cliente always available for any help.
Brandon Moreno
Origin: Tijuana, Mexico
Record: 22W-8L-2D
Weight Class: Flyweight Category
UFC Debut: October 1, 2016
Brandon Moreno is among the most successful Hispanic athletes, as he has already claimed two títulos de peso mosca (flyweight titles). What’s more astonishing is that Moreno is only 31 years old, and may get a few more shots at the title.
That said, Moreno’s career in the UFC has been a bumpy ride. During his rough patch, Moreno lost a couple of bouts on the trot, which forced the UFC creators to release him from his contract. Eventually, Moreno had to compete at the regional level.
Soon after, he was back in the UFC with a bang, and after winning three fights in a row, he earned a tiro al título (shot at the title), then held by Deiveson Figueiredo.
Alejandro Perez
Origin: Aguascalientes, Mexico
Record: 23W-9L-1D
Weight Class: Bantamweight Category
UFC Debut: November 15, 2014
Alejandro Perez is one of the most underestimated names in the boxing world. However, considering he’s been knocked out twice in 33 matches, one should always put respect to his name.
Although Perez is 35 now and may retire soon, but he’s still to bag a UFC title. However, Perez won The Ultimate Fight: Latin America, and twice The Performance of the Night awards.
In January 2023, it was reported that UFC had released Perez following his loss against Jonathan Martinez. Nevertheless, Perez may return to the octágono (octagon) this year to prove that he still belongs at the highest level of this sport.
Alexa Grasso
Origin: Guadalajara, Mexico
Record: 16W-4L-1D
Weight Class: Flyweight Category
UFC Debut: December 19, 2012
Alexa Grasso deserves to be on the list simply because she is the first and the only Mexican woman ever to carry a belt in the UFC. Grasso’s debut in the strawweight category wasn’t a promising one, as she only managed to win 3 bouts and lose 3.
However, since transitioning to the flyweight category, Grasso hasn’t looked back. On March 5th, 2023, Grasso defeated the then-division champion, Valentina Shevchenko to toma el titulo (grab the title).
She once again faced Valentina to defend her title, which she did successfully by managing a draw. However, the last match in Grasso and Valentina’s trilogy ended with Valentina defeating Grasso to reclaim the title. But that said, Alexa Grasso is far from over and may get her hands on the belt again.
Diego Lopes
Origin: Manaus, State of Amazonas, Brazil
Record: 26W-6L-0D
Weight Class: Featherweight Category
UFC Debut: May 6, 2023
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Diego Lopes’s entry in the UFC was a little late. However, since debuting, Diego Lopes has been one of the artistas más consistentes (most consistent performers) in the featherweight category.
One of the iconic moments of Lopes inside the octagon was when he nearly submitted to his unbeaten opponent; Movsar Evloev. Since then, Lopes has been in the limelight as he has defeated multiple UFC veterans throughout his short career.
Anyway, Lopes may get more opportunities to grab the glory. Plus, he has already thrashed Gavin Tucker and Pat Sabatini, it’d be a matter of time before he got his shot at the featherweight title.
Honorary Mentions
Before I wind up, below are some more iconic Hispanic fighters who couldn’t make it to the main list:
Cain Velazquez – Mexican – American Origin (Heavyweight, 14W-3L-0D)
Tony Ferguson – Mexican – American Origin (Welterweight, 26W-11L-0D)
Nate Diaz – Mexican – Anglo Origin (Lightweight, 22W-13L-0D)
Polo Reyes – Mexican Origin (Lightweight, 8W-9L-0D)
Tito Ortiz – Mexican – American Origin (Light Heavyweight, 21W-12L-1D)
