Tecia Torres

Tecia Torres
Born (1989-08-16) August 16, 1989
Fall River, Massachusetts, United States
Other names The Tiny Tornado
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)[1]
Weight 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
Division Strawweight (115 lb)
Reach 61.0 in (155 cm)[2]
Style Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Team American Top Team
Rank Black belt in Karate[3]
Black belt in Taekwondo[4]
Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[5]
Years active 2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 8
Wins 7
By decision 7
Losses 1
By decision 1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

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 2016, she is #4 in the official UFC strawweight rankings.[6]

Background

Torres has been involved in martial arts since age 5. She began in taekwondo as a child and after twelve years she received her black belt in Jhoon Rhee taekwondo.[4] She also has an amateur muay thai record of sixteen victories and four losses.[7]

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.[8][9][10]

In 2012, Torres moved to professional mixed martial arts and signed with Invicta Fighting Championships.[11]

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.[12]

Torres faced Paige VanZant on January 5, 2013 at Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt, winning on all judges' score cards.[13] She then won a unanimous decision over Rose Namajunas on July 13, 2013 at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg.[14] 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.[15]

The Ultimate Fighter

"I want to become the champion and hold that belt. I don’t want to just win a fight and then lose it in my next fight. I want to create the Tiny Tornado legacy."

—Torres after signing with the UFC[16]

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.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20] She was replaced by promotional newcomer Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger. Torres won the fight by unanimous decision.[21]

Torres faced Rose Namajunas in a rematch on April 16, 2016 at UFC on Fox 19.[22] She lost the fight via unanimous decision.[23]

Fighting style

Torres employs constant lateral movement while combining elements of taekwondo and karate.[16][24] She frequently utilizes kicking techniques, occasionally following a high or low kick with a fast side kick.[25] When punching, she will often press forward with a flurry of high strikes.[24][25] Torres does not often utilize submission techniques, but has demonstrated submission defense.[25]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 7–1 Rose Namajunas Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fox: Teixeira vs. Evans April 16, 2016 3 5:00 Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 7–0 Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger Decision (unanimous) UFC 194 December 12, 2015 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 6–0 Angela Hill Decision (unanimous) UFC 188 June 13, 2015 3 5:00 Mexico City, Mexico
Win 5–0 Angela Magana Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned Finale December 12, 2014 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 4–0 Felice Herrig Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith December 7, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 3–0 Rose Namajunas Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg July 13, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 2–0 Paige VanZant Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt January 5, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Win 1–0 Kaiyana Rain Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sugiyama October 6, 2012 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 1–2 Carla Esparza Decision (majority) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned December 3, 2014 (airdate) 2 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 20 Quarterfinal round
Win 1–1 Bec Rawlings Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned November 12, 2014 (airdate) 2 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 20 Elimination round, Torres was introduced back into competition and switched over to Team Pettis
Loss 0–1 Randa Markos Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: A Champion Will Be Crowned September 10, 2014 (airdate) 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 20 Elimination round

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Fight Card - UFC 188 Velasquez vs. Werdum". UFC.com. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Tecia Torres' profile". Tapology.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  3. ↑ Thomas Gerbasi (May 14, 2014). "Meet the Strawweights: Tecia Torres". UFC.com.
  4. 1 2 "Spotlight Tecia Torres". Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  5. ↑ "Fight Path: Invicta FC 6′s Tecia Torres put on martial arts path in kindergarten". MMAjunkie.com. 2013-07-04.
  6. ↑ "Fighter Rankings - UFC ®". UFC.
  7. ↑ "Tecia Torres' profile". MMAgirls.net. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  8. ↑ "Tecia Torres Moves To 5-0 With Title Win In Florida". MMARising.com. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  9. 1 2 "Tecia Torres Dominates Ashley Greenway, Wins USFFC Title". MMARising.com. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  10. 1 2 "After Third Title Victory, 7-0 Tecia Torres Targets Fall Pro Debut". MMARising.com. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  11. ↑ Brian Hemminger (2012-10-04). "Tiny Tornado: Invicta FC 3 pro debuter Tecia Torres interview exclusive with MMAmania.com". MMAmania.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  12. ↑ Brian Knapp (2012-10-06). "Jessica Penne triangles Naho Sugiyama, captures atomweight gold at Invicta FC 3". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  13. ↑ Brian Knapp (2013-01-05). "Carla Esparza outpoints Bec Hyatt, seizes vacant Invicta strawweight championship". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  14. ↑ Staff (2013-07-14). "Invicta FC 6 results: Cris 'Cyborg' claims featherweight belt with TKO win". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  15. ↑ Staff (2013-12-08). "Invicta FC 7 results: Barb Honchak outlasts Leslie Smith to retain belt". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  16. 1 2 Gerbasi, Thomas (May 14, 2014). "Meet The Strawweights: Tecia Torres". UFC.com. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  17. ↑ John Morgan and Steven Marrocco (2013-12-11). "UFC acquires 11 fighters from Invicta FC, launches women's strawweight division with 'TUF 20′". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  18. ↑ "TUF 20 Episode 1 Recap: Randa Markos Upsets Tecia Torres - MMARising.com". mmarising.com.
  19. ↑ Matt Erickson (2013-12-11). "TUF 20 Finale adds six fights in Las Vegas, including Herrig-Ellis, Torres-Magana". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
  20. ↑ Dann Stupp and John Morgan (2015-11-24). "Super card takes a hit: Michelle Waterson out of UFC 194". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  21. ↑ Matt Erickson (2015-12-12). "UFC 194 results: Tecia Torres too quick for Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger in decision sweep". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  22. ↑ "UFC FIGHT NIGHT SAT. APR. 16, 2016 NURMAGOMEDOV VS FERGUSON". 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
  23. ↑ Ben Fowlkes (2016-04-16). "UFC on FOX 19 results: Rose Namajunas avenges loss to Tecia Torres with decision". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
  24. 1 2 Wolff, Dwayne (December 10, 2013). "The Tiny Tornado Takes Over Invicta FC 7". hov-mma.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  25. 1 2 3 Sargent, Robert (July 13, 2013). "Invicta Fighting Championships 6 Live Play-By-Play & Results". mmarising.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  26. 1 2 "WMMA 2013 Awards". Awakening Fighters.
  27. ↑ "2013 Women's MMA Year-End Awards". BleacherReport.com. 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
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