Rafa García | |
---|---|
Born | Rafael García Jr. August 5, 1994 Brawley, California, United States |
Other names | Gifted |
Residence | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico |
Nationality | Mexican |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) |
Division | Lightweight |
Reach | 70.0 in (178 cm) [1] |
Fighting out of | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico |
Team | Team Punisher
[2] Yuma United MMA (formerly) [2] UFC GYM Costa Mesa (2017–present) [2] Huntington Beach Ultimate Training Center [2] |
Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [3] |
Years active | 2014–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 18 |
Wins | 15 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 8 |
By decision | 6 |
Losses | 3 |
By decision | 3 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Rafael García Jr. (born August 5, 1994) is an American-born Mexican professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional mixed martial artist since 2014, García is also a former Combate Americas Lightweight Champion.
García was born in Brawley, California to Mexican parents and grew up in El Centro, California, and has a sister and a younger brother. [2] [4] He started training martial arts at the age of 13 when his father took him to a gym to learn self-defense. [2] [5] He graduated from Imperial High School where he wrestled for one year. [2] [4] He lives in Mexicali, Baja California since 2013.
Racking up a 4–0 record in Mexico, García participated in the inaugural Combate Americas open tryouts and receiving a contract after winning the tryouts. [6] In Combate Americas García went undefeated 8–0 and claiming the Combate Americas Lightweight Championship against Erick Gonzalez at Combate 44 on September 20, 2019. [7] He successfully defended the title against Humberto Bandenay at Combate 55 on February 21, 2020. On June 13, 2020, García announced that he had vacated the title. [8]
On March 10, 2021, it was announced that García would be replacing Don Madge against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad on March 13, 2021. [9] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [10]
In his sophomore appearance, García faced Chris Gruetzemacher at UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland on July 31, 2021. Despite knocking Gruetzemacher down in the first round, García went on to lose the fight via unanimous decision. [11]
García then faced Natan Levy at UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate on November 20, 2021. [12] He won the bout via unanimous decision. [13]
García faced Jesse Ronson on April 16, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 34. [14] He won the fight via rear-naked choke in round two. [15]
García faced Drakkar Klose, replacing injured Carlos Diego Ferreira, on July 30, 2022 at UFC 277. [16] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [17]
García faced Hayisaer Maheshate on December 17, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 216. [18] At the weigh-ins, Hayisaer Maheshate weighed in at 158.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Maheshate was fined 20% of his purse, which went to García. [19] García won the fight via unanimous decision. [20]
García faced Clay Guida on April 15, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 44.Rafa García [21] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [22]
García and his wife have a daughter (born 2019) and a son (born 2021), both born in Mexicali, Mexico. [2] [23]
18 matches | 15 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 1 | 0 |
By submission | 8 | 0 |
By decision | 6 | 3 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 15–3 | Clay Guida | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen | April 15, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
Win | 14–3 | Hayisaer Maheshate | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (158.5 lb) bout; Maheshate missed weight. |
Loss | 13–3 | Drakkar Klose | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
Win | 13–2 | Jesse Ronson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 | April 16, 2022 | 2 | 4:50 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | García was deducted one point in round 2 due to an illegal knee. |
Win | 12–2 | Natan Levy | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate | November 20, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 11–2 | Chris Gruetzemacher | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland | July 31, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 11–1 | Nasrat Haqparast | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad | March 13, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 11–0 | Humberto Bandenay | Decision (unanimous) | Combate 55: Mexicali | February 21, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexicali, Mexico | Defended the Combate Americas Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 10–0 | Erick Gonzalez | Decision (unanimous) | Combate 44: Mexicali | September 20, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexicali, Mexico | Won the inaugural Combate Americas Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 9–0 | Estevan Payan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Combate 39: Unbreakable | June 7, 2019 | 1 | 4:50 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 8–0 | Edgar Escarrega | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Combate 30: Mexicali | February 8, 2019 | 2 | 1:07 | Mexicali, Mexico | |
Win | 7–0 | LaRue Burley | KO (punches) | Combate 24: Alday vs. Lopez | September 14, 2018 | 1 | 2:26 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 6–0 | Chase Gibson | Decision (majority) | Combate 20: Combate Estrellas 1 | April 13, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Lightweight debut. |
Win | 5–0 | Marcos Bonilla | Submission (armbar) | Combate 17: El Grito En La Jaula | September 15, 2017 | 2 | 1:07 | Redlands, California, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Raúl Najera Ocampo | Submission (heel hook) | Combate 10 | January 19, 2017 | 1 | 1:04 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
Win | 3–0 | Jovany Amador | Submission (armbar) | Warrior Championship Fighting 8 | December 3, 2016 | 1 | 3:21 | Mexicali, Mexico | |
Win | 2–0 | Mike Sandoval | Submission (armbar) | Warrior Championship Fighting 6 | July 18, 2015 | 1 | 0:24 | Mexicali, Mexico | |
Win | 1–0 | Dante Ramos | Submission (armbar) | Extreme Full Contact 4 | October 18, 2014 | 1 | 2:06 | Mexicali, Mexico | Featherweight debut. |
Rafa García | |
---|---|
Born | Rafael García Jr. August 5, 1994 Brawley, California, United States |
Other names | Gifted |
Residence | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico |
Nationality | Mexican |
Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11 st 1 lb) |
Division | Lightweight |
Reach | 70.0 in (178 cm) [1] |
Fighting out of | Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico |
Team | Team Punisher
[2] Yuma United MMA (formerly) [2] UFC GYM Costa Mesa (2017–present) [2] Huntington Beach Ultimate Training Center [2] |
Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu [3] |
Years active | 2014–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 18 |
Wins | 15 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 8 |
By decision | 6 |
Losses | 3 |
By decision | 3 |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Rafael García Jr. (born August 5, 1994) is an American-born Mexican professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional mixed martial artist since 2014, García is also a former Combate Americas Lightweight Champion.
García was born in Brawley, California to Mexican parents and grew up in El Centro, California, and has a sister and a younger brother. [2] [4] He started training martial arts at the age of 13 when his father took him to a gym to learn self-defense. [2] [5] He graduated from Imperial High School where he wrestled for one year. [2] [4] He lives in Mexicali, Baja California since 2013.
Racking up a 4–0 record in Mexico, García participated in the inaugural Combate Americas open tryouts and receiving a contract after winning the tryouts. [6] In Combate Americas García went undefeated 8–0 and claiming the Combate Americas Lightweight Championship against Erick Gonzalez at Combate 44 on September 20, 2019. [7] He successfully defended the title against Humberto Bandenay at Combate 55 on February 21, 2020. On June 13, 2020, García announced that he had vacated the title. [8]
On March 10, 2021, it was announced that García would be replacing Don Madge against Nasrat Haqparast at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad on March 13, 2021. [9] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [10]
In his sophomore appearance, García faced Chris Gruetzemacher at UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland on July 31, 2021. Despite knocking Gruetzemacher down in the first round, García went on to lose the fight via unanimous decision. [11]
García then faced Natan Levy at UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate on November 20, 2021. [12] He won the bout via unanimous decision. [13]
García faced Jesse Ronson on April 16, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 34. [14] He won the fight via rear-naked choke in round two. [15]
García faced Drakkar Klose, replacing injured Carlos Diego Ferreira, on July 30, 2022 at UFC 277. [16] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. [17]
García faced Hayisaer Maheshate on December 17, 2022 at UFC Fight Night 216. [18] At the weigh-ins, Hayisaer Maheshate weighed in at 158.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Maheshate was fined 20% of his purse, which went to García. [19] García won the fight via unanimous decision. [20]
García faced Clay Guida on April 15, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 44.Rafa García [21] He won the fight by unanimous decision. [22]
García and his wife have a daughter (born 2019) and a son (born 2021), both born in Mexicali, Mexico. [2] [23]
18 matches | 15 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 1 | 0 |
By submission | 8 | 0 |
By decision | 6 | 3 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 15–3 | Clay Guida | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen | April 15, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
Win | 14–3 | Hayisaer Maheshate | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (158.5 lb) bout; Maheshate missed weight. |
Loss | 13–3 | Drakkar Klose | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Dallas, Texas, United States | |
Win | 13–2 | Jesse Ronson | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 | April 16, 2022 | 2 | 4:50 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | García was deducted one point in round 2 due to an illegal knee. |
Win | 12–2 | Natan Levy | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate | November 20, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 11–2 | Chris Gruetzemacher | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland | July 31, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Loss | 11–1 | Nasrat Haqparast | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad | March 13, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 11–0 | Humberto Bandenay | Decision (unanimous) | Combate 55: Mexicali | February 21, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexicali, Mexico | Defended the Combate Americas Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 10–0 | Erick Gonzalez | Decision (unanimous) | Combate 44: Mexicali | September 20, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexicali, Mexico | Won the inaugural Combate Americas Lightweight Championship. |
Win | 9–0 | Estevan Payan | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Combate 39: Unbreakable | June 7, 2019 | 1 | 4:50 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 8–0 | Edgar Escarrega | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Combate 30: Mexicali | February 8, 2019 | 2 | 1:07 | Mexicali, Mexico | |
Win | 7–0 | LaRue Burley | KO (punches) | Combate 24: Alday vs. Lopez | September 14, 2018 | 1 | 2:26 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 6–0 | Chase Gibson | Decision (majority) | Combate 20: Combate Estrellas 1 | April 13, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Lightweight debut. |
Win | 5–0 | Marcos Bonilla | Submission (armbar) | Combate 17: El Grito En La Jaula | September 15, 2017 | 2 | 1:07 | Redlands, California, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Raúl Najera Ocampo | Submission (heel hook) | Combate 10 | January 19, 2017 | 1 | 1:04 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
Win | 3–0 | Jovany Amador | Submission (armbar) | Warrior Championship Fighting 8 | December 3, 2016 | 1 | 3:21 | Mexicali, Mexico | |
Win | 2–0 | Mike Sandoval | Submission (armbar) | Warrior Championship Fighting 6 | July 18, 2015 | 1 | 0:24 | Mexicali, Mexico | |
Win | 1–0 | Dante Ramos | Submission (armbar) | Extreme Full Contact 4 | October 18, 2014 | 1 | 2:06 | Mexicali, Mexico | Featherweight debut. |