Miguel Torres

Miguel Torres (born January 18, 1981) is an American former mixed martial artist. He is a former WEC Bantamweight Champion and also formerly competed for the UFC and Ironheart Crown.

Background Torres was born and raised in East Chicago, Indiana. He began training in tae kwon do when he was seven years old and later attended East Chicago Central High School where he competed in wrestling. Torres also trained in boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

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

After fighting for several years, Torres sought guidance and training under Carlson Gracie, Sr. 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.

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 submission 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 WEC Bantamweight Champion.

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

Torres was next expected to face Brian Bowles in the main event of WEC 40 on April 5, 2009, in Chicago, Illinois. However, Bowles injured and replaced by Japanese newcomer Takeya Mizugaki. Torres defeated Mizugaki by unanimous decision to retain his belt.

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 huge upset. The loss snapped Torres' streak of 17 consecutive victories and marked his first loss in the Bantamweight division.

On March 6, 2010, at WEC 47, Torres faced and was defeated by Joseph Benavidez, via guillotine choke midway through the second round.

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

Ultimate Fighting Championship On October 28, 2010, the WEC merged with the UFC. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.

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

Torres was expected to face English fighter Brad Pickett on May 28, 2011, at UFC 130. However, Pickett was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by future UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson. Torres lost to Johnson via unanimous decision (29–28 on all cards). While taken down early in the first round, Torres controlled the first round, but in rounds two and three was outstruck and controlled on the ground, resulting in Johnson receiving the victory.

Torres faced Nick Pace on November 19, 2011, at UFC 139. He dominated Pace, winning a unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

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: "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 White after the UFC 141 press conference that Torres 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. After the loss he was once again released from the promotion.

World Series of Fighting On September 6, 2012, it was announced that Torres was one of many fighters to sign on with the World Series of Fighting. Torres made his WSOF debut on November 3, 2012, at WSOF 1 against Bantamweight prospect Marlon Moraes, he lost via split decision.

For his second fight with the promotion, Torres fought on October 26, 2013, at WSOF 6 against Pablo Alfonso. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Independent Promotions Torres signed with Indiana-based promotion "United Combat League" in early 2014. He faced Giovanni Moljo in his debut fight on February 15, 2014. Torres won the fight via unanimous decision, snapping his three fight losing streak in the process. He then faced Wade Choate at UCL: Torres vs. Choate on May 31, 2014. He won the fight via guillotine choke submission.

Torres faced Takahiro Ashida at Rebel FC 2 on August 1, 2014. He won the fight via split decision.

GLORY Torres signed with the GLORY kickboxing promotion's Featherweight (-65 kg/143 lb) division in May 2014. He was expected to compete in the Glory 17: Los Angeles - Featherweight Contendership Tournament in Inglewood, California on June 21, 2014 but withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Marcus Vinicius.

Titan Fighting Championship In early October 2014, it was announced that Torres had signed a contract with Titan Fighting Championship. He made his debut on October 31, 2014, in the main event at Titan FC 31 against Desmond Green. Torres lost the fight via knockout in the first round.

Training Torres owns and operates a mixed martial arts academy in Griffith, Indiana where he teaches nearly 300 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 While Torres was essentially his own 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.

Personal life Miguel Torres is divorced and has a daughter born in 2007. Sherdog Breakthrough Fighter of the Year (2008) Bloody Elbow 2008 #2 Ranked Fighter of the Year MMA Fighting 2008 #2 Ranked UFC Fight of the Year

Mixed martial arts record Win

Lloyd Carter Submission (guillotine choke) United Combat League: Havoc In Hammond 3

Hammond, Indiana, United States Loss

Kleber Koike Erbst Submission (brabo choke) Rebel FC 3: The Promised Ones

Qingdao, China Loss

Desmond Green KO (knee and punches) Titan FC 31

Tampa, Florida, United States Win

Takahiro Ashida Decision (split) Rebel FC 2: Battle Royal

Marina Bay, Singapore Win

Wade Choate Submission (guillotine choke) United Combat League: Torres vs. Choate

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Giovanni Moljo Decision (unanimous) United Combat League: Havoc in Hammond

Hammond, Indiana, United States Loss

Pablo Alfonso Submission (guillotine choke) WSOF 6

Coral Gables, Florida, United States Loss

Marlon Moraes Decision (split) WSOF 1

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Michael McDonald KO (punches) UFC 145

Atlanta, Georgia, United States Win

Nick Pace Decision (unanimous) UFC 139

San Jose, California, United States Loss

Demetrious Johnson Decision (unanimous) UFC 130

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Antonio Banuelos Decision (unanimous) UFC 126

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Charlie Valencia Submission (rear-naked choke) WEC 51

Broomfield, Colorado, United States Loss

Joseph Benavidez Submission (guillotine choke) WEC 47

Columbus, Ohio, United States Loss

Brian Bowles KO (punches) WEC 42

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Takeya Mizugaki Decision (unanimous) WEC 40

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Manny Tapia TKO (punches & elbows) WEC 37

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Yoshiro Maeda TKO (doctor stoppage) WEC 34

Sacramento, California, United States Win

Chase Beebe Submission (guillotine choke) WEC 32

Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States Win

Jeff Bedard Submission (triangle choke) WEC 30

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Darius Turcinskas Submission (rear-naked choke) IMMAC 2: Attack

Chicago, Illinois, United States Win

Charles Wilson Submission (triangle choke) TFC: Total Fight Challenge 7

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Bobby Gamboa Submission (rear-naked choke) AFC 19: Absolution Fighting Championships 19

Boca Raton, Florida, United States Win

Derek Collins TKO (punches) TFC: Total Fight Challenge 6

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Richard Nancoo TKO (punches) IHC 10: Tempest

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Joe Pearson Submission (triangle choke) TFC: Total Fight Challenge 5

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Ryan Ackerman Submission (armbar) IHC 9: Purgatory

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Dan Swift Decision (unanimous) TFC: Total Fight Challenge 3

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Mike French Submission (triangle choke) SB 40: Superbrawl 40

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Jim Bruketta Submission (triangle choke) TFC: Total Fight Challenge 2

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Alex Khanbabian Submission (armbar) IHC 8: Ethereal

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Mustafa Hussaini TKO (punches) IHC 7: The Crucible

Hammond, Indiana, United States Loss

Ryan Ackerman Decision (unanimous) IHC 6: Inferno

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Lindsey Durlacher Decision (unanimous) IHC 4: Armageddon

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Brian Szohr Submission (triangle choke) TCC: Battle of the Badges

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Craig Williamson Submission (triangle choke) TCC: Battle of the Badges

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Steve Reyna TKO (doctor stoppage) IHC 3: Exodus

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Nick Mitchell Decision (unanimous) IHC 3: Exodus

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Danny Long KO (punches) TCC: Total Combat Challenge

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Patrick Rodriguez Submission FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Josh Mason TKO (submission to punches) Cage Rage 2

Kokomo, Indiana, United States Win

Mark Jaromillo Submission (armbar) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

David Odle TKO (submission to punches) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Danny Alexander Submission (rear-naked choke) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Jesse Gudenschwagger TKO (doctor stoppage) MMA Invitational 4

Hammond, Indiana, United States Win

Chad Bratton Decision (unanimous) ES: Extreme Shootfighting

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Win

Ricky Olson Decision (unanimous) ES: Extreme Shootfighting

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Win

Cory Merriman TKO (submission to punches) ES: Extreme Shootfighting

Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Win

Dan Caesar TKO (submission to punches) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Kris Kramer Submission (triangle choke) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Michael Reyna TKO (submission to punches) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Dan Caesar Submission (guillotine choke) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Win

Larry Pulliam TKO (punches) FFCC: Finke's Full Contact Challenge

Highland, Indiana, United States Kickboxing record 0 wins (0 KOs), 1 losses, 0 draw Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time Record 2015-01-16 Loss Angel Huerta Legacy Kickboxing 1 Houston, Texas, USA Decision (unanimous) 3 3:00 0–1