Tecia Torres (born August 16, 1989) is an American mixed martial artist who is currently competing in the strawweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of January 2017, she is #6 in the official UFC strawweight rankings.
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Background
Torres has been involved in martial arts since age 3. She began in taekwondo as a child, and received her black belt after twelve years practicing the sport. She also has an amateur muay thai record of sixteen victories and four losses.
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Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Torres started her amateur mixed martial arts career in 2011. She won each of her seven bouts, obtaining 115-pound titles in MMA Solutions, US Freedom Fighter Championship and American Battle Championships.
In 2012, Torres moved to professional mixed martial arts and signed with Invicta Fighting Championships.
Invicta Fighting Championships
Torres made her professional and promotional debut against Kaiyana Rain on October 6, 2012 at Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama. She won via unanimous decision.
Torres faced Paige VanZant on January 5, 2013 at Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt, winning on all judges' score cards. She then won a unanimous decision over Rose Namajunas on July 13, 2013 at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg. Her final bout of 2013 was against Felice Herrig on December 7, 2013 at Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith. She won via unanimous decision.
The Ultimate Fighter
In December 2013, Torres was announced as one of 11 women signed by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for its newly created strawweight division. It was also announced that she would compete as a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter reality series, as part of a tournament to crown the inaugural strawweight champion. In the season premiere of The Ultimate Fighter, Torres was selected by Team Melendez with the second pick. Third-ranked Torres was matched against #14 Randa Markos. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
Torres was the overall no. 3 seed in the tournament and picked second by coach Gilbert Melendez. She faced Randa Markos in the preliminary round and, in a surprise upset, lost the fight via unanimous decision over three rounds. Torres, however, was allowed back into the tournament when Justine Kish injured her knee in training. She was transferred to the team run by Anthony Pettis and defeated Bec Rawlings in the preliminary round by unanimous decision. She faced Carla Esparza in the quarter-finals and lost via majority decision in two rounds.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Torres made her UFC debut against fellow Ultimate Fighter competitor Angela Magana at The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale on December 12, 2014. She won the fight via dominant unanimous decision, outstriking Magana two-to-one over the course of three rounds.
Torres next faced TUF 20 alumnus Angela Hill on June 13, 2015 at UFC 188. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Torres was next expected to face former Invicta FC Atomweight Champion Michelle Waterson at UFC 194. However, Waterson pulled out of the bout on November 24, 2015, citing a knee injury. She was replaced by promotional newcomer Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger. Torres won the fight by unanimous decision.
Torres faced Rose Namajunas in a rematch on April 16, 2016 at UFC on Fox 19. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Torres next faced Bec Rawlings in a rematch at UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie on February 4, 2017. At the weigh-ins, Rawlings came in at 117.5 lbs, over the women's strawweight limit of 116 lbs. As a result, Rawlings was fined 20% of her purse, which went to Tecia Torres and the bout proceeded at a catchweight. Torres won the fight by unanimous decision.
Fighting style
Torres employs constant lateral movement while combining elements of taekwondo and karate. She frequently utilizes kicking techniques, occasionally following a high or low kick with a fast side kick. When punching, she will often press forward with a flurry of high strikes. Torres does not often utilize submission techniques, but has demonstrated submission defense.
Personal life
Torres is of Puerto Rican descent. She is engaged to UFC Bantamweight Raquel Pennington.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- MMA Solutions Global
- MMA Solutions amateur strawweight title (one time)
- US Freedom Fighter Championship
- USFFC amateur strawweight title (one time)
- American Battle Championships
- ABC amateur strawweight title (one time)
- Women's MMA Awards
- 2013 Strawweight of the Year
- AwakeningFighters.com WMMA Awards
- 2013 Strawweight of the Year
- 2013 Newcomer of the Year
- Bleacher Report
- 2013 WMMA Fight of the Year vs. Rose Namajunas on July 13
Mixed martial arts record
Mixed martial arts exhibition record
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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