Tecia Torres

Tecia Torres
Born August 16, 1989
Fall River, Massachusetts, United States
Other names The Tiny Tornado
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
Weight 115 lb (52 kg; 8.2 st)
Division Strawweight (115 lb)
Reach 61.0 in (155 cm)[1]
Style Taekwondo, Muay Thai, Karate
Fighting out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Team American Top Team
Rank      Black belt in Karate[2]
     Black belt in Taekwondo[3]
     Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu[4]
Years active 2011–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total 5
Wins 5
By decision 5
Losses 0
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 December 16, 2014, she is #5 in the official UFC strawweight rankings.[5]

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.[3] She also has an amateur muay thai record of sixteen victories and four losses.[6]

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.[7][8][9]

In 2012, Torres moved to professional mixed martial arts and signed with Invicta Fighting Championships.[10]

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.[11]

Torres faced Paige VanZant on January 5, 2013 at Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt, winning on all judges' score cards.[12] She then won a unanimous decision over Rose Namajunas on July 13, 2013 at Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg.[13] 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.[14]

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[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

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 round. 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 2 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.[18] She won the fight via dominant unanimous decision, outstriking Magana two-to-one over the course of three rounds.

Fighting style

Torres employs constant lateral movement while combining elements of taekwondo and karate.[15][19] She frequently utilizes kicking techniques, occasionally following a high or low kick with a fast side kick.[20] When punching, she will often press forward with a flurry of high strikes.[19][20] Torres does not often utilize submission techniques, but has demonstrated submission defense.[20]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |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
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Felice Herrig Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 7: Honchak vs. Smith December 7, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Rose Namajunas Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 6: Coenen vs. Cyborg July 13, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Paige VanZant Decision (unanimous) Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt January 5, 2013 3 5:00 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |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
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 1–2 Carla Esparza Decision (majority) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Pettis vs. Team Melendez December 4, 2014 (airdate) 2 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 20 Quarter-final
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–1 Bec Rawlings Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Pettis vs. Team Melendez November 12, 2014 (airdate) 2 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 20 Preliminary round; Replaced Justine Kish.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 0–1 Randa Markos Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter: Team Pettis vs. Team Melendez September 10, 2014 (airdate) 3 5:00 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States TUF 20 Preliminary round

Mixed martial arts amateur record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–0 Amber Stautzenberger Decision (unanimous) American Battle Championships: Rumble at Renegades 11 July 16, 2012 3 3:00 West Palm Beach, Florida, United States Won ABC amateur women's strawweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–0 Ashley Greenway Decision (unanimous) US Freedom Fighter Championship 5: Battle Forged June 23, 2012 5 4:00 Marion, North Carolina, United States Won USFFC amateur women's strawweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–0 Jamie Moyle Decision (unanimous) MMA Solutions Global: Bone Island Fights May 17, 2012 3 3:00 Key West, Florida, United States Won MMASG amateur women's strawweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–0 Sarah McLeod Decision (unanimous) Victory Fighting Championship 37 April 13, 2012 3 3:00 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Jill Valenzuela Decision (unanimous) Major League Cage Fighting February 25, 2012 3 3:00 Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Rebecca Gruitza TKO (punches) North American Allied Fight Series: Caged Fury 15 October 15, 2011 1 0:28 Cleveland, Ohio, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Ivey Turner Submission (rear-naked choke) Wild Bill's Fight Night 40 September 23, 2011 2 2:43 Duluth, Georgia, United States

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Tecia Torres' profile". Tapology.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  2. ↑ Thomas Gerbasi (May 14, 2014). "Meet the Strawweights: Tecia Torres". UFC.com.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Spotlight Tecia Torres". Retrieved 2013-12-19.
  4. ↑ Staff (2013-07-04). "Fight Path: Invicta FC 6′s Tecia Torres put on martial arts path in kindergarten". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  5. ↑ UFC Fighter Rankings
  6. ↑ "Tecia Torres' profile". MMAgirls.net. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  7. ↑ "Tecia Torres Moves To 5-0 With Title Win In Florida". MMARising.com. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Tecia Torres Dominates Ashley Greenway, Wins USFFC Title". MMARising.com. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "After Third Title Victory, 7-0 Tecia Torres Targets Fall Pro Debut". MMARising.com. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2014-01-01.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Brian Knapp (2012-10-06). "Jessica Penne triangles Naho Sugiyama, captures atomweight gold at Invicta FC 3". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  12. ↑ Brian Knapp (2013-01-05). "Carla Esparza outpoints Bec Hyatt, seizes vacant Invicta strawweight championship". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  13. ↑ Staff (2013-07-14). "Invicta FC 6 results: Cris ‘Cyborg’ claims featherweight belt with TKO win". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  14. ↑ Staff (2013-12-08). "Invicta FC 7 results: Barb Honchak outlasts Leslie Smith to retain belt". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Gerbasi, Thomas (May 14, 2014). "Meet The Strawweights: Tecia Torres". UFC.com. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
  16. ↑ 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.
  17. ↑ http://www.mmarising.com/articles/2014/09/10/tuf-20-episode-1-recap-randa-markos-upsets-tecia-torres/
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Wolff, Dwayne (December 10, 2013). "The Tiny Tornado Takes Over Invicta FC 7". hov-mma.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Sargent, Robert (July 13, 2013). "Invicta Fighting Championships 6 Live Play-By-Play & Results". mmarising.com. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 http://www.awakeningfighters.com/wmma-2013-awards/
  22. ↑ "2013 Women's MMA Year-End Awards". BleacherReport.com. 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2013-12-31.

External links

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