Miguel Torres (fighter)
| Miguel Torres | |
|---|---|
| Born | Miguel Angel Torres January 18, 1981 East Chicago, Indiana, United States |
| Residence | Hammond, Indiana, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Bantamweight |
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
| 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 | 45 |
| Wins | 40 |
| By knockout | 9 |
| By submission | 23 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 5 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 2 |
| University | Purdue University |
| Children | 1 |
| 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 March 2012, Torres is ranked the #6 bantamweight fighter in the world by Sherdog.[2]
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.
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.
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.
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 was knocked out by Michael McDonald on April 21, 2012 at UFC 145.
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[14] 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.[15]
Personal life
Miguel Torres is divorced. His daughter was born in 2007.[14]
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."[14]
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.[16]
Championships and awards
- World Extreme Cagefighting
- WEC Bantamweight Championship (One time)
- Fight of the Night (Two times)
- Submission of the Night (One time)
- Sherdog
- Breakthrough Fighter of the Year (2008)[17]
Mixed martial arts record
| 45 matches | 40 wins | 5 losses |
| By knockout | 9 | 2 |
| By submission | 23 | 1 |
| By decision | 8 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 40–5 |  Michael McDonald
|
KO (punches) | UFC 145 | April 21, 2012 | 1 | 3:18 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 40–4 | Nick Pace
|
Decision (unanimous) | UFC 139 | November 19, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | San Jose, California, United States | Catchweight bout as Pace weighed in at 141lbs. |
| Loss | 39–4 | Demetrious Johnson
|
Decision (unanimous) | UFC 130 | May 28, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 39–3 | Antonio Banuelos
|
Decision (unanimous) | UFC 126 | February 5, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 38–3 | Charlie Valencia
|
Submission (rear naked choke) | WEC 51 | September 30, 2010 | 2 | 2:25 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States | Submission of the Night. |
| Loss | 37–3 | Joseph Benavidez
|
Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 47 | March 6, 2010 | 2 | 2:57 | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |
| Loss | 37–2 | Brian Bowles
|
KO (punches) | WEC 42 | August 9, 2009 | 1 | 3:57 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Lost the WEC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 37–1 |  Takeya Mizugaki
|
Decision (unanimous) | WEC 40 | April 5, 2009 | 5 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Defended WEC Bantamweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 36–1 | Manny Tapia
|
TKO (punches and elbows) | WEC 37 | December 3, 2008 | 2 | 3:04 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Defended the WEC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 35–1 | Yoshiro Maeda
|
TKO (doctor stoppage) | WEC 34 | June 1, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Sacramento, California, United States | Defended the WEC Bantamweight Championship. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 34–1 | Chase Beebe
|
Submission (guillotine choke) | WEC 32 | February 13, 2008 | 1 | 3:59 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | Won the WEC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 33–1 | Jeff Bedard
|
Submission (triangle choke) | WEC 30 | September 5, 2007 | 1 | 2:30 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 32–1 | Darius Turcinskas
|
Submission (rear naked choke) | IMMAC 2: Attack | April 21, 2007 | 2 | 0:57 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 31–1 | Charles Wilson
|
Submission (triangle choke) | Total Fight Challenge 7 | February 10, 2007 | 3 | 1:29 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 30–1 | Bobby Gamboa
|
Submission (rear naked choke) | AFC 19 | September 9, 2006 | 1 | 2:52 | Boca Raton, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 29–1 | Derek Collins
|
TKO (punches) | Total Fight Challenge 6 | May 5, 2006 | 1 | 2:32 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 28–1 |  Richard Nancoo
|
TKO (punches) | IHC 10: Tempest | April 29, 2006 | 2 | N/A | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 27–1 | Joe Pearson
|
Submission (triangle choke) | Total Fight Challenge 5 | February 18, 2006 | 1 | 0:28 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 26–1 | Ryan Ackerman
|
Submission (armbar) | IHC 9: Purgatory | November 19, 2005 | 1 | 4:45 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 25–1 | Dan Swift
|
Decision (unanimous) | Total Fight Challenge 3 | May 21, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 24–1 | Mike French
|
Submission (triangle choke) | Superbrawl 40 | April 30, 2005 | 2 | 2:44 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 23–1 | Jim Bruketta
|
Submission (triangle choke) | Total Fight Challenge 2 | February 19, 2005 | 2 | 2:08 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 22–1 | Alex Khanbabian
|
Submission (armbar) | IHC 8: Ethereal | November 20, 2004 | 1 | 1:01 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 21–1 | Mustafa Hussaini
|
TKO (punches) | IHC 7: The Crucible | June 5, 2004 | 3 | 1:24 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Loss | 20–1 | Ryan Ackerman
|
Decision (unanimous) | IHC 6: Inferno | November 22, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 20–0 | Lindsey Durlacher
|
Decision (unanimous) | IHC 4: Armageddon | May 18, 2002 | 3 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 19–0 | Brian Szohr
|
Submission (triangle choke) | TCC: Battle of the Badges | April 13, 2002 | 1 | 3:36 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 18–0 | Craig Williamson
|
Submission (triangle choke) | TCC: Battle of the Badges | April 13, 2002 | 1 | 2:45 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 17–0 | Steve Reyna
|
TKO (doctor stoppage) | IHC 3: Exodus | November 10, 2001 | 1 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 16–0 | Nick Mitchell
|
Decision (unanimous) | IHC 3: Exodus | November 10, 2001 | 2 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 15–0 | Danny Long
|
KO (punches) | Total Combat Challenge | September 29, 2001 | 1 | N/A | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 14–0 | Patrick Rodriguez
|
Submission | Finke's FCC | April 30, 2001 | 2 | 1:41 | Highland, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 13–0 | Josh Mason
|
Submission (punches) | Cage Rage 2 | April 14, 2001 | 2 | N/A | Kokomo, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 12–0 | Mark Jaromillo
|
Submission (armbar) | Finke's FCC | March 26, 2001 | 2 | 2:40 | Highland, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 11–0 | David Odle
|
Submission (punches) | Finke's FCC | February 26, 2001 | 1 | 2:05 | Highland, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 10–0 | Danny Alexander
|
Submission (rear naked choke) | Finke's FCC | January 29, 2001 | 1 | 0:58 | Highland, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Jesse Gudenschwagger
|
TKO (doctor stoppage) | MMA Invitational 4 | November 18, 2000 | 2 | 5:00 | Hammond, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 | Chad Bratton
|
Decision (unanimous) | Extreme Shootfighting | September 30, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Ricky Olson
|
Decision (unanimous) | Extreme Shootfighting | September 30, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Cory Merriman
|
Submission (punches) | Extreme Shootfighting | September 30, 2000 | 1 | 1:27 | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Dan Caesar
|
Submission (punches) | Finke's FCC | August 28, 2000 | 1 | 4:30 | Highland, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Kris Kramer
|
Submission (triangle choke) | Finke's FCC | July 28, 2000 | 1 | 3:00 | Highland, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Michael Reyna
|
Submission (punches) | Finke's FCC | May 22, 2000 | 1 | 1:22 | Highland, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Dan Caesar
|
Submission (guillotine choke) | Finke's FCC | April 24, 2000 | 1 | 4:09 | Highland, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Larry Pulliam
|
TKO (punches) | Finke's FCC | March 27, 2000 | 1 | 0:10 | Highland, Indiana, United States |
References
- ^ http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=15016
- ^ "Sherdog Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings". Sherdog.com. March 7, 2011.
- ^ http://www.mmaheadliner.com/mma-news/my-first-fight-miguel-torres
- ^ "Event - WEC: Bowles vs. Cruz". wec.tv. 2009-12-19.
- ^ "Miguel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez set for WEC 47, likely to determine No. 1 contender". mmajunkie.com. 2009-12-31.
- ^ "Miguel Torres to Face Charlie Valencia in WEC 51 Co-Main Event". mmafighting.com. 07-09-2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "UFC and WEC set to merge in 2011; events to air on Versus and Spike TV". mmajunkie.com. October 28, 2010.
- ^ "Miguel Torres Takes On Antonio Banuelos At UFC 126". heavy.com. November 4, 2010.
- ^ "Miguel Torres announces he's been offered and accepted a fight with Brad Pickett at UFC 130". mmaweekly.com. February 11, 2011.
- ^ "UFC 130: Miguel Torres vs Demetrious Johnson booked with Brad Pickett injured". mmamania.com. April 21, 2011.
- ^ "UFC 130 results: Miguel Torres vs Demetrious Johnson ends in controversy; did the judges cageside monitors help?". mmamania.com. May 29, 2011.
- ^ "Nick Pace says he's fighting Miguel Torres at UFC 139 in November". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Dana White responds to Rashad Evans, Miguel Torres insensitive comments". SI.com. December 9, 2011.
- ^ a b c Miguel Torres talks mullets, sacrifice and daughters
- ^ Crawford, Percy (August 11, 2009). "Miguel Torres:"Brian Bowles Just Woke Up a Sleeping Giant"". Fight Hype. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
- ^ http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Curran-Mizugaki-and-backyard-brawls-Cage-Write?urn=mma,151293
- ^ http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/4/Sherdogs-Miscellaneous-Awards-for-2008-15727