Miguel Torres (fighter)

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Miguel Torres
Born Miguel Angel Torres
January 18, 1981 (1981-01-18) (age 31)
East Chicago, Indiana, United States
Residence Hammond, Indiana, United States
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight 135 lb (61.2 kg; 9.6 st)
Division Bantamweight
Reach 76 in (193 cm)
Style Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai
Fighting out of Montreal, Québec, Canada
Team Tristar Gym, Torres Martial Arts Academy
Trainer Firas Zahabi
Rank black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active 2000 – present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 43
Wins 39
By knockout 8
By submission 23
By decision 8
Losses 4
By knockout 1
By submission 1
By decision 2
University Purdue University
Children 1
Website http://www.torresmartialarts.com
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
last updated on: October 11, 2011

Miguel Angel Torres (born January 18, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist. He is a former WEC Bantamweight champion. Prior to fighting with the WEC, Torres also held the bantamweight title for the US Shooto organization, as well as for the Ironheart Crown. Torres specializes primarily in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and also possesses a potent Muay Thai striking arsenal. Torres received his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Carlson Gracie, Jr in September 2008.[1]

As of October 2011, Torres is ranked the #7 bantamweight in the world by Sherdog.[2]

Contents

[edit] Mixed martial arts career

For a number of years Torres fought primarily in small, unsanctioned events held in Northwest Indiana nightclubs and bars. As a result, much of his early fighting career is undocumented. Prior to signing with the WEC, he fought often on Chicago-area shows, including the Total Fight Challenge and the Ironheart Crown. He held the bantamweight title in both of these organizations for several years and his participation in those events is well documented.[3]

After fighting for several years, Torres sought guidance and training under Carlson Gracie, Senior. As a trainer of many world champions, Gracie immediately recognized Torres's talent and took him on a trip to Brazil where he would publicly issue a challenge to the entire world. Long before Torres gained fame in the WEC, Gracie believed that no one could beat him at 135 pounds.

Torres received several offers to fight overseas in Brazil and Japan after the challenge was issued. Because these offers were not lucrative enough to face the tougher competition, he turned them down and continued to fight locally instead.

[edit] World Extreme Cagefighting

His first fight with the WEC came on September 5, 2007 against Jeff Bedard. Torres submitted Bedard in the first round with a triangle choke and then would go on to publicly request a title shot.

Torres would get one for his next fight and at WEC 32 he fought Chase Beebe for the WEC Bantamweight Championship. Torres displayed great striking and an equally impressive ground game and submitted Beebe in the first round to become the new undisputed champion at 135.

Following the defeat of Beebe, Torres successfully defended his title with back-to-back TKO victories; one over Yoshiro Maeda in an exciting war and the other over the previously-undefeated Manny Tapia. It capped off a 2008 where Torres earned Breakthrough Fighter of the Year honors from Sherdog.com. [1]

Torres fought Takeya Mizugaki in the main event of WEC 40 on April 5, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois and won by unanimous decision to retain his belt. Mizugaki seemingly surprised Torres with his proficient boxing skills and solid takedown defense, stuffing many attempts from the champion. Torres showed his prowess with striking, finding a home for his muay thai knees in the challenger's midsection, whilst becoming more accurate with his boxing. Both fighters displayed great heart in a competitive bout where Torres’ standup skills proved too much for his opponent.

Next in line to fight Torres for his title was Brian Bowles, who was replaced by Mizugaki due to an injury sustained by Bowles. Bowles was ringside at WEC 40 and was called out by Torres after his five-round bout with Mizugaki. The fight headlined WEC 42 on August 9, 2009 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Torres started out strong, but he rushed Bowles wildly, resulting in Torres being knocked out in a big upset. The loss snapped Torres' streak of 17 consecutive victories and marked his first loss at 135 lbs.

On March 6, 2010 at WEC 47,[4] Torres faced and was defeated by Joseph Benavidez, via guillotine choke in the second round.[5]

Torres faced Charlie Valencia on September 30, 2010 at WEC 51.[6] He won the fight via submission in the second round.

[edit] Ultimate Fighting Championship

On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.[7]

Torres made his promotional debut against fellow WEC veteran Antonio Banuelos on February 5, 2011 at UFC 126.[8] He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Torres was expected to face Brad Pickett on May 28, 2011 at UFC 130.[9] However, Pickett was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Demetrious Johnson.[10] Torres lost to Johnson via decision (all judges scoring the fight 29-28). While taken down early in the first round, Torres controlled the first round, but in rounds 2 and 3 was outstruck and controlled on the ground, and Johnson earned the victory.[11]

Torres faced Nick Pace on November 19, 2011 at UFC 139.[12] He dominated Pace, winning a landslide unanimous decision.

[edit] Release and Return to the UFC

On December 8, 2011, it was announced by UFC president Dana White, in an interview with SI.com, that Torres had been cut from the UFC due to the following quote from the TV show Workaholics made on Torres' Twitter page:[13]

"If a rape van was called a surprise van more women wouldn't mind going for rides in them. Everyone likes surprises."

On December 28, 2011, it was announced by Dana White after the UFC 141 press conference that Miguel was back in the UFC. Regarding Torres' return, White stated that "Torres handled his business like a man and no one told him to do it."

Torres is expected to face Michael McDonald on April 21, 2012 at UFC 145.[14]

[edit] Training

Torres owns and operates a mixed martial arts academy in Hammond, Indiana where he teaches nearly 200 students. Among these students are several up and coming fighters whom he trains to fight in the same local shows that he once competed in himself. The academy specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

An article on Yahoo! discussed Torres' commitment to MMA, stating that before fights he sleeps and eats in his gym[15] While Torres was essentially his own self-coach and ran his own training camps over the duration of his career, after his loss to Brian Bowles, Torres stated that he planned to revamp his training methods by working with several professional coaches, including Mark DellaGrotte.[16]

[edit] Personal life

Miguel Torres is divorced. His daughter was born in 2007.[15]

Many fans have discussed the evolution of Torres' hairstyle; Torres stated in an interview that he adopted his iconic mullet from his father. Torres went on to say that, his father's "mullet is much more awesome than mine" and that the mullet "is a Mexican thing."[15]

Torres was first introduced to martial arts at nine years old (although he had taken Tae-Kwon-Do lessons for a couple of years before that) when his father bought him a pair of boxing gloves for his birthday.[17]

[edit] Championships and awards

[edit] Mixed martial arts

[edit] Mixed martial arts record

While his fight database record is 39–4, Torres claims a ledger of 52–4,[19][20] stating that "he started fighting way before there were databases."[21]

Result Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 39–4 United States Nick Pace Decision (unanimous) UFC 139 02011-11-19 November 19, 2011 3 5:00 San Jose, California, United States Catchweight bout as Pace weighed in at 141lbs.
Loss 38–4 United States Demetrious Johnson Decision (unanimous) UFC 130 02011-05-28 May 28, 2011 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 38–3 United States Antonio Banuelos Decision (unanimous) UFC 126 02011-02-05 February 5, 2011 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States UFC Debut.
Win 37–3 United States Charlie Valencia Submission (rear naked choke) WEC 51 02010-09-30 September 30, 2010 2 2:25 Broomfield, Colorado, United States Submission of the Night.
Loss 36–3 United States Joseph Benavidez Submission (guillotine choke) WEC 47 02010-03-06 March 6, 2010 2 2:57 Columbus, Ohio, United States
Loss 36–2 United States Brian Bowles KO (punches) WEC 42 02009-08-09 August 9, 2009 1 3:57 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Lost the WEC Bantamweight Championship.
Win 36–1 Japan Takeya Mizugaki Decision (unanimous) WEC 40 02009-04-05 April 5, 2009 5 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States Defended WEC Bantamweight Championship. Fight of the Night.
Win 35–1 United States Manny Tapia TKO (punches and elbows) WEC 37 02008-12-03 December 3, 2008 2 3:04 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Defended the WEC Bantamweight Championship.
Win 34–1 Japan Yoshiro Maeda TKO (doctor stoppage) WEC 34 02008-06-01 June 1, 2008 3 5:00 Sacramento, California, United States Defended the WEC Bantamweight Championship. Fight of the Night.
Win 33–1 United States Chase Beebe Submission (guillotine choke) WEC 32 02008-02-13 February 13, 2008 1 3:59 Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Won the WEC Bantamweight Championship.
Win 32–1 United States Jeff Bedard Submission (triangle choke) WEC 30 02007-09-05 September 5, 2007 1 2:30 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States WEC Debut.
Win 31–1 United States Darius Turcinskas Submission (rear naked choke) IMMAC 2: Attack 02007-04-21 April 21, 2007 2 0:57 Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 30–1 United States Charles Wilson Submission (triangle choke) Total Fight Challenge 7 02007-02-10 February 10, 2007 3 1:29 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 29–1 United States Bobby Gamboa Submission (rear naked choke) AFC 19 02006-09-09 September 9, 2006 1 2:52 Boca Raton, Florida, United States
Win 28–1 United States Derek Collins TKO (punches) Total Fight Challenge 6 02006-05-05 May 5, 2006 1 2:32 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 27–1 Canada Richard Nancoo TKO (punches) IHC 10: Tempest 02006-04-29 April 29, 2006 2 N/A Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 26–1 United States Joe Pearson Submission (triangle choke) Total Fight Challenge 5 02006-02-18 February 18, 2006 1 0:28 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 25–1 United States Ryan Ackerman Submission (armbar) IHC 9: Purgatory 02005-11-19 November 19, 2005 1 4:45 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 24–1 United States Dan Swift Decision (unanimous) Total Fight Challenge 3 02005-05-21 May 21, 2005 3 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 23–1 United States Mike French Submission (triangle choke) Superbrawl 40 02005-04-30 April 30, 2005 2 2:44 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 22–1 United States Jim Bruketta Submission (triangle choke) Total Fight Challenge 2 02005-02-19 February 19, 2005 2 2:08 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 21–1 United States Alex Khanbabian Submission (armbar) IHC 8: Ethereal 02004-11-20 November 20, 2004 1 1:01 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 20–1 United States Mustafa Hussaini TKO (punches) IHC 7: The Crucible 02004-06-05 June 5, 2004 3 1:24 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Loss 19–1 United States Ryan Ackerman Decision (unanimous) IHC 6: Inferno 02003-11-22 November 22, 2003 3 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 19–0 United States Lindsey Durlacker Decision (unanimous) IHC 4: Armageddon 02002-05-18 May 18, 2002 3 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 18–0 United States Brian Szohr Submission (triangle choke) TCC: Battle of the Badges 02002-04-13 April 13, 2002 1 3:36 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 17–0 United States Craig Williamson Submission (triangle choke) TCC: Battle of the Badges 02002-04-13 April 13, 2002 1 2:45 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 16–0 United States Steve Reyna TKO (doctor stoppage) IHC 3: Exodus 02001-11-10 November 10, 2001 1 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 15–0 United States Nick Mitchell Decision (unanimous) IHC 3: Exodus 02001-11-10 November 10, 2001 2 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 14–0 United States Patrick Rodriguez Submission Finke's FCC 02001-04-30 April 30, 2001 2 1:41 Highland, Indiana, United States
Win 13–0 United States Josh Mason Submission (punches) Cage Rage 2 02001-04-14 April 14, 2001 2 N/A Kokomo, Indiana, United States
Win 12–0 United States Mark Jaromillo Submission (armbar) Finke's FCC 02001-03-26 March 26, 2001 2 2:40 Highland, Indiana, United States
Win 11–0 United States David Odle Submission (punches) Finke's FCC 02001-02-26 February 26, 2001 1 2:05 Highland, Indiana, United States
Win 10–0 United States Danny Alexander Submission (rear naked choke) Finke's FCC 02001-01-29 January 29, 2001 1 0:58 Highland, Indiana, United States
Win 9–0 United States Jesse Gudenschwagger TKO (doctor stoppage) MMA Invitational 4 02000-11-18 November 18, 2000 2 5:00 Hammond, Indiana, United States
Win 8–0 United States Chad Bratton Decision (unanimous) Extreme Shootfighting 02000-09-30 September 30, 2000 1 15:00 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Win 7–0 United States Ricky Olson Decision (unanimous) Extreme Shootfighting 02000-09-30 September 30, 2000 1 15:00 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Win 6–0 United States Cory Merriman Submission (punches) Extreme Shootfighting 02000-09-30 September 30, 2000 1 1:27 Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Win 5–0 United States Dan Caesar Submission (punches) Finke's FCC 02000-08-28 August 28, 2000 1 4:30 Highland, Indiana, United States
Win 4–0 United States Kris Kramer Submission (triangle choke) Finke's FCC 02000-07-28 July 28, 2000 1 3:00 Highland, Indiana, United States
Win 3–0 United States Michael Reyna Submission (punches) Finke's FCC 02000-05-22 May 22, 2000 1 1:22 Highland, Indiana, United States
Win 2–0 United States Dan Caesar Submission (guillotine choke) Finke's FCC 02000-04-24 April 24, 2000 1 4:09 Highland, Indiana, United States
Win 1–0 United States Larry Pulliam TKO (punches) Finke's FCC 02000-03-27 March 27, 2000 1 0:10 Highland, Indiana, United States

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=15016
  2. ^ "Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings". Sherdog.com. October 11, 2011. http://www.sherdog.com/news/rankings/8/Sherdog-Official-Mixed-Martial-Arts-Rankings-36368. 
  3. ^ http://www.mmaheadliner.com/mma-news/my-first-fight-miguel-torres
  4. ^ "Event - WEC: Bowles vs. Cruz". wec.tv. 2009-12-19. http://www.wec.tv/index.cfm?fa=eventdetail.fightCard&eid=2685. 
  5. ^ "Miguel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez set for WEC 47, likely to determine No. 1 contender". mmajunkie.com. 2009-12-31. http://mmajunkie.com/news/17373/miguel-torres-vs-joseph-benavidez-set-for-wec-47-likely-to-determine-no-1-contender.mma. 
  6. ^ "Miguel Torres to Face Charlie Valencia in WEC 51 Co-Main Event". mmafighting.com. 07-09-2010. http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/07/09/miguel-torres-to-face-charlie-valencia-in-wec-51-co-main-event/. 
  7. ^ "UFC and WEC set to merge in 2011; events to air on Versus and Spike TV". mmajunkie.com. October 28, 2010. http://mmajunkie.com/news/21189/ufc-and-wec-set-to-merge-in-2011-events-to-air-on-versus-and-spike-tv.mma. 
  8. ^ "Miguel Torres Takes On Antonio Banuelos At UFC 126". heavy.com. November 4, 2010. http://www.heavy.com/mma/mma-news/2010/11/exclusive-miguel-torres-takes-on-antonio-banuelos-at-ufc-126/. 
  9. ^ "Miguel Torres announces he's been offered and accepted a fight with Brad Pickett at UFC 130". mmaweekly.com. February 11, 2011. http://mmaweekly.com/miguel-torres-announces-hes-been-offered-and-accepted-a-fight-with-brad-pickett-at-ufc-130. 
  10. ^ "UFC 130: Miguel Torres vs Demetrious Johnson booked with Brad Pickett injured". mmamania.com. April 21, 2011. http://www.mmamania.com/2011/4/21/2124237/ufc-130-miguel-torres-vs-demetrious-johnson-booked-with-brad-pickett. 
  11. ^ "UFC 130 results: Miguel Torres vs Demetrious Johnson ends in controversy; did the judges cageside monitors help?". mmamania.com. May 29, 2011. http://www.mmamania.com/2011/5/29/2196569/ufc-130-results-miguel-torres-vs-demetrious-johnson-ends-in. 
  12. ^ "Nick Pace says he's fighting Miguel Torres at UFC 139 in November". mmajunkie.com. http://mmajunkie.com/news/25372/nick-pace-says-hes-fighting-miguel-torres-at-ufc-139-in-november.mma. Retrieved 2011-09-22. 
  13. ^ "Dana White responds to Rashad Evans, Miguel Torres insensitive comments". SI.com. December 9, 2011. http://mma-boxing.si.com/2011/12/08/dana-white-responds-to-rashad-evans-miguel-torres-media-miscues/. 
  14. ^ "UFC 145: Miguel Torres vs Michael McDonald fight announced". mmamania.com. January 20, 2012. http://www.mmamania.com/2012/1/20/2722113/ufc-145-miguel-torres-vs-michael-mcdonald-fight-announced-seven-bouts. 
  15. ^ a b c Miguel Torres talks mullets, sacrifice and daughters
  16. ^ Crawford, Percy (August 11, 2009). "Miguel Torres:"Brian Bowles Just Woke Up a Sleeping Giant"". Fight Hype. http://fighthype.com/pages/content5421.html. Retrieved 2009-08-15. 
  17. ^ http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Curran-Mizugaki-and-backyard-brawls-Cage-Write?urn=mma,151293
  18. ^ http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/4/Sherdogs-Miscellaneous-Awards-for-2008-15727
  19. ^ "Fighters". Torres Martial Arts Academy. http://www.torresmartialarts.com/fighters.php. Retrieved 2008-06-08. 
  20. ^ http://squabbles.com/2009/04/wec-bantamweight-news/#more-2457
  21. ^ Morgan, John (May 26, 2008). "Miguel Torres: from barrooms to the big time". MMA Junkie. http://mmajunkie.com/news/4427/miguel-torres-from-barrooms-to-the-big-time.mma. Retrieved 2008-06-08. 

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Chase Beebe
3rd WEC Bantamweight Champion
February 13, 2008 - August 9, 2009
Succeeded by
Brian Bowles
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