John Moraga
John Moraga | |
---|---|
Born | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
March 20, 1984
Nationality | American |
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1] |
Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
Division | Flyweight (125 lb) Bantamweight (135 lb) Featherweight (145 lb) |
Reach | 66.0 in (168 cm)[1] |
Fighting out of | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
Team | Arizona Combat Sports MMA Lab |
Years active | 2009–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 20 |
Wins | 16 |
By knockout | 2 |
By submission | 8 |
By decision | 6 |
Losses | 4 |
By knockout | 1 |
By submission | 1 |
By decision | 2 |
University | Arizona State University |
Notable school(s) | Maryvale High School |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
John Anthony Moraga[2] (born March 20, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist who fights in the flyweight division. He is currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As of August 17, 2015, he is #6 in the official UFC flyweight rankings,[3] and ranked the #8 flyweight in the world by Sherdog.[4]
Contents
Biography
Early life
Moraga was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Maryvale High School and then chose to go to Arizona State University where he was a two-time University Freestyle All-American wrestler for the Sun Devils.[5]
Early mixed martial arts career
Moraga started his professional career at 2009 in Arizona for the local organization Rage in the Cage. There he achieved an undefeated record of 6–0, until his fight against John Dodson at 2010, in which he lost by unanimous decision. After this setback he won five straight bouts to make his way into the UFC. He is of Mexican heritage.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Moraga was expected his promotional debut against Ian McCall on August 4, 2012 at UFC on Fox 4.[6] However, McCall was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Ulysses Gomez.[7] Moraga won the fight via KO in the first round.[8]
Moraga next faced Chris Cariaso on December 29, 2012 at UFC 155.[9] Moraga was victorious with a third round guillotine choke submission. His victory also earned him Submission of the Night honors.[10]
Moraga was expected to face UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on April 13, 2013 at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.[11] However, Johnson was forced out of the bout with an injury and Moraga was removed from the event as well.[12]
Moraga eventually faced UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Fox 8 on July 27, 2013. Moraga showed promise in the first round as he landed some good strikes standing. However, the champion began to wear him down with his wrestling. Despite hurting Johnson in the fourth round with a punch, he lost the fight via submission in the fifth round.[13]
Moraga was expected to face Darren Uyenoyama on December 14, 2013 at UFC on Fox 9.[14] However, Moraga pulled out of the bout with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alptekin Ozkilic.[15]
Moraga faced Dustin Ortiz on January 15, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 35.[16] He won the fight via split decision.[17]
A rematch with John Dodson took place on June 7, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 42.[18] He lost the fight via TKO due to a doctor stoppage between rounds two and three after a knee Dodson threw late in the second round broke Moraga's nose.[19]
Moraga faced Justin Scoggins on September 5, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 50.[20] Moraga defeated Scoggins via submission in the second round, securing a guillotine choke after being taken down.[21]
Moraga was expected to face Jussier Formiga on December 13, 2014 at UFC on Fox 13.[22] However on November 21, Formiga pulled out of the fight and was replaced by UFC newcomer Willie Gates.[23][24] Moraga won the fight via submission in the third round.[25]
Moraga faced Joseph Benavidez on May 23, 2015 at UFC 187.[26] Moraga lost the back and forth fight fight via unanimous decision.[27]
Moraga is expected to face TUF Brazil 4 semifinalist Matheus Nicolau at the The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale on July 8 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.[28]
Championships and accomplishments
Amateur wrestling
- USA Wrestling[29]
- University Freestyle All-American out of Arizona State University (2006–07)
- University Freestyle National Championship 133 lb: 6th place out of Arizona State University (2006–07)
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- Pac-10 Conference 125 lb: 4th place out of Arizona State University (2007)[30]
- Pac-10 Conference 133 lb: 6th place out of Arizona State University (2004)[31]
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Submission of the Night (one time)
- Rage in the Cage
- Rage in the Cage Bantamweight Crown (2012)
- Trilogy Championship Fighting
- Trilogy Championship Fighting Bantamweight Champion (2011)
- Sherdog
- 2013 All-Violence First Team[32]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
20 matches | 16 wins | 4 losses |
By knockout | 2 | 1 |
By submission | 8 | 1 |
By decision | 6 | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 16–4 | Joseph Benavidez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 187 | May 23, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 16–3 | Willie Gates | Submission (rear-naked-choke) | UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic | December 13, 2014 | 3 | 4:06 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 15–3 | Justin Scoggins | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Mousasi | September 5, 2014 | 2 | 0:47 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States | |
Loss | 14–3 | John Dodson | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov | June 7, 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
Win | 14–2 | Dustin Ortiz | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou | January 15, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | |
Loss | 13–2 | Demetrious Johnson | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga | July 27, 2013 | 5 | 3:43 | Seattle, Washington, United States | For the UFC Flyweight Championship. |
Win | 13–1 | Chris Cariaso | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 155 | December 29, 2012 | 3 | 1:11 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Submission of the Night. |
Win | 12–1 | Ulysses Gomez | KO (elbows and punches) | UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera | August 4, 2012 | 1 | 3:46 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Flyweight debut. |
Win | 11–1 | Jose Carbajal | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Rage - On the River 2 | July 7, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Parker, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 10–1 | Maurice Senters | Decision (unanimous) | RITC - Rage in the Cage 160 | June 22, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Won the RITC Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 9–1 | Matthew Garcia | Submission (armbar) | Coalition of Combat - The Bangers Ball | February 25, 2012 | 1 | 3:10 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 8–1 | Freddie Lux | Submission (guillotine choke) | Trilogy Championship Fighting - Rumble at the Ranch 2 | November 5, 2011 | 1 | 0:49 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Won the TCF Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 7–1 | Nathaniel Baker | Submission (armbar) | Martinez Brothers Production - Sun City Battle | July 9, 2011 | 3 | 2:27 | El Paso, Texas, United States | |
Loss | 6–1 | John Dodson | Decision (unanimous) | Nemesis Fighting: MMA Global Invasion | December 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | |
Win | 6–0 | Aldo Escudero | Decision (unanimous) | RITC 143 - Rage in the Cage 143 | July 31, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 5–0 | Travis Halverson | Submission (guillotine choke) | RITC 142 - Rage in the Cage 142 | June 26, 2010 | 1 | 1:17 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 4–0 | Pat Donovan | Submission (triangle choke) | RITC 140 - Rage in the Cage 140 | March 20, 2010 | 2 | 1:12 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 3–0 | Evan Morton | Decision (unanimous) | RITC 139 - Rage in the Cage 139 | February 13, 2010 | 3 | 3:00 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 2–0 | Al Decastro | TKO (punches) | RITC 138 - Rage in the Cage 138 | December 4, 2009 | 1 | 1:15 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | |
Win | 1–0 | Sam Shapiro | Decision (unanimous) | RITC 136 - Rage in the Cage 136 | November 7, 2009 | 3 | 3:00 | Prescott Valley, Arizona, United States |
See also
References
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- ↑ http://boxing.nv.gov/uploadedFiles/boxingnvgov/content/results/2015_Results/05-23-15MMA.pdf
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- ↑ Ulysses Gomez replaces injured Ian McCall at UFC on Fox 4 by Tristen Critchfield (Sherdog.com) on July 23, 2012
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- ↑ http://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/mma-ufc/ufc-flyweight-contender-john-moraga-set-return-action-las-vegas
- ↑ UFC on Fox 8 Factgrinder: The Wrestling of Demetrious Johnson and John Moraga by Mike Riordan (Bloodyelbow.com) on July 22, 2013
- ↑ NCAA wrestling championships await Sun Devils Thesundevils.com (March 13, 2007)
- ↑ John Espinoza - Arizona State University Thesundevils.com
- ↑ http://m.sherdog.com/news/articles/2/Sherdogcoms-2012-AllViolence-Team-48763
External links
- Professional MMA record for John Moraga from SherdogLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Official UFC Profile
- John Moraga on TwitterLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).