Fighter Profile: Miguel Angel Torres

Overall Record: 37-2

WEC Record: 5-1

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Height: 5’10” Weight: 135

Age: 28

Miguel Torres is currently a mixed martial artist who fights for the World Extreme Cagefighting organization in the bantamweight (135 lbs.) division. He is a holder of many championship belts including the one he currently possesses as the WEC Bantamweight champion.

The Mexican-American fighter is also an owner and operator of his own training center, Torres Martial Arts located in Hammond, Indiana; where there are approximately 200 students learning all types of martial arts. Torres himself specializes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, earning a black belt under Carlson Gracie, Jr. in September 2008.

Although claiming he had several previous unsanctioned bouts, according to official databases Miguel Torres began competing professionally in March of 2000 for Finke’s Full Contact Challenge located in Highland, Indiana. He also appeared on other local cards including Extreme Shootfighting, Total Combat Challenge, and Ironheart Crown early in his career.

No matter where Torres happened to be fighting, the result was going to be the same. His first six official bouts all were finished with either a TKO or submission. Overall the bantamweight star would face twenty opponents before meeting his match in the shape of Ryan Ackerman at Ironheart Crown 6 in November 2003. After fifteen minutes of action, Ackerman was awarded the decision victory, handing Torres his first official loss as a professional.

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Even after beginning his career at 20-1, Torres didn’t receive the attention that he deserved mainly due to the lack of a bantamweight division in some of the sports larger organizations. He continued to fight and fight often, in small local shows in Northwest Indiana. He would run off twelve more consecutive wins, defeating solid opponents including a rematch with Ackerman, which Torres won in the 1st round with a submission, as well as Joe Pearson and Mike French.

After seven plus years of fighting on small stages and bars near his home, the twenty eight year old was given an opportunity in the WEC. On September 5, 2007 at WEC 30 in Las Vegas, Torres was matched up against the undefeated Jeff Bedard. Seemingly already at a disadvantage against Bedard, who had two previous WEC wins, Torres put his skills on display and submitted Bedard 2:30 into the 1st round via triangle choke.

Impressed with his talent, WEC officials prepared a bantamweight championship match between Torres and (12-1 at the time) Chase Beebe. Torres was coming off a slick submission victory in his promotional debut and Beebe entered with a two-fight WEC win streak. Torres again showed his superior striking skills, picking his opponent apart with jabs and hooks, but it was his ground skills that finished Beebe less than four minutes into the 1st round. A tight guillotine choke courtesy of Torres had put Beebe to sleep and more importantly given Torres the 135 lbs. championship belt at WEC 32.

Steadily gaining notoriety for being a skilled finisher, Torres proved that he is a true champion by defending his belt three more times. He continued to dominate, stopping Yoshiro Maeda at WEC 34 in June 2008 with a 3rd round TKO then Manny Tapia at WEC 37 with punches and elbows doing the job in the middle of the 2nd round. His WEC 34 masterpiece with Japanese fighter Maeda was credited as a “Fight of the Year” candidate on many of the major MMA websites.

In his most recent bout in April 2009 at WEC 40, Torres was taken the full five rounds for the first time in his career by another tough Japanese fighter, Takeya Mizugaki. As the fight ended there was little doubt as to who the winner would be. Torres stayed busy the entire fight, earning points on his feet with precise striking and on the ground with technical grappling, grinding out a unanimous decision victory.

The third title defense at WEC 40 was Torres’ 17th straight win and 5 th consecutive WEC victory. In his career he has 31 stoppages out of 37 total wins, including 22 career submissions and 9 knockouts. Before his most recent decision win he had an impressive streak of finishing eleven opponents in a row with a submission or knockout.

Often finding his name at the top of the Bantamweight rankings and Pound for Pound Rankings, there is no doubt that the 28 year old is among the worlds’ elite. His next title defense will be on August 9 at WEC 42 in Las Vegas as Brian Bowles will step up and take his turn at defeating the longtime champion. Bowles will come into the bout on the strength of a seven fight win streak with all seven victories coming via stoppage. Already established as a true champion, a win against an up and comer such as Bowles may just catapult his status from champion to bantamweight legend.

Recent Miguel Angel Torres MMA News:

• Lost to Brian Bowles at WEC 42 on August 9, 2009 - WEC 42 results

• Will face Joseph Benavidez at WEC 47 on March 6, 2010 - WEC 47 fight card & results

By Nick Russell
Published July 2009, Updated January 2010

Photo courtesy of Torres Martial Arts