Rafael García Jr. (born August 5, 1994) is a Mexican and American professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who currently competes in the

Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing (sport), rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) boxing weight classes, weight class in the spor ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

. A professional since 2014, García is also a former

Combate Americas Combate Global (formerly known as Combate Americas) is an Hispanic America, Hispanic American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company founded in 2011 by current-CEO Campbell McLaren and based in New York City, New Yor ...

Lightweight Champion.

Background

García was born in

Brawley, California Brawley (formerly Braly) is a city in Imperial County, California, United States within the Imperial Valley. The population was 26,416 at the 2020 census, up from 24,953 at the 2010 census. Year-round agriculture is an important economic act ...

to Mexican parents and grew up in

El Centro, California El Centro ( Spanish for "The Center") is a city and county seat of Imperial County, California, United States. El Centro is the most populous city in the Imperial Valley, the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core ...

, and has a sister and a younger brother. He started training martial arts at the age of 13 when his father took him to a gym to learn self-defense. He graduated from Imperial High School where he wrestled for one year. He lives in

Mexicali, Baja California Mexicali (; ) is the capital city of the Mexican state of Baja California. The city, which is the seat of the Mexicali Municipality, has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the Calexico–Mexicali metropolitan area is ...

since 2013.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Racking up a 4–0 record in Mexico, García participated in the inaugural

open tryouts and receiving a contract after winning the tryouts. In Combate Americas García went undefeated 8–0 and claiming the Combate Americas Lightweight Championship against Erick Gonzalez at Combate 44 on September 20, 2019. He successfully defended the title against

Humberto Bandenay Humberto Bandenay (born September 4, 1994) is a Peruvian mixed martial artist (MMA) who is best known for competing in the Featherweight division in the UFC. Mixed martial arts career Early career Bandenay started his professional MMA career i ...

at Combate 55 on February 21, 2020. On June 13, 2020, García announced that he had vacated the title.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

On March 10, 2021, it was announced that García would be replacing Don Madge against

Nasrat Haqparast Mohammad Nasrat Haqparast (born August 22, 1995) is an Afghan mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Background Haqparast was born in Germany to Afghan parents from ...

at UFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad on March 13, 2021. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. In his sophomore appearance, García faced

Chris Gruetzemacher Chris Gruetzemacher (born June 16, 1986) is an American mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2008, he has also competed for Strikeforce, the Wor ...

at UFC on ESPN: Hall vs. Strickland on July 31, 2021. Despite knocking Gruetzemacher down in the first round, García went on to lose the fight via unanimous decision. García then faced

Natan Levy Natan Levy (; born September 30, 1991) is a French-Israeli professional mixed martial artist who competed in the lightweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Early life Levy was born on in Paris, France to a traditional Jew ...

at UFC Fight Night: Vieira vs. Tate on November 20, 2021. He won the bout via unanimous decision. García faced

Jesse Ronson Jesse Ronson (born December 24, 1985) is a Canadian mixed martial artist who competed the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the Lightweight division. A professional fighter since 2009, he has previously competed in promotions such as UFC, ...

on April 16, 2022 at UFC on ESPN 34. He won the fight via rear-naked choke in round two. García faced

Drakkar Klose Drakkar Klose (born March 9, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Background Born and raised alongside six other siblings in South Haven, Michigan, Klo ...

, replacing injured

Carlos Diego Ferreira Carlos Diego Ferreira Neves (born January 18, 1985) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the former Legacy FC lightweight champion, and vacate ...

, on July 30, 2022 at

UFC 277 ''UFC 277: Peña vs. Nunes 2'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on July 30, 2022, at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, United States. Background A UFC Women's Bantamweight Cha ...

. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. García faced Hayisaer Maheshate on December 17, 2022 at

UFC Fight Night 216 ''UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland'' (also known as ''UFC Fight Night 216, UFC on ESPN+ 74'' and ''UFC Vegas 66'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 17, 2022, at the ...

. At the weigh-ins, Hayisaer Maheshate weighed in at 158.5 pounds, two and a half pounds over the lightweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Maheshate was fined 20% of his purse, which went to García. García won the fight via unanimous decision. García faced

Clay Guida Clayton Charles Guida (; born December 8, 1981) is an American professional mixed martial artist, who competed in the UFC in the Lightweight division. A professional since 2003, Guida also formerly competed for Strikeforce, the WEC, King of the ...

on April 15, 2023 at UFC on ESPN 44. He won the fight by unanimous decision. García faced

Grant Dawson Grant Michael Dawson (born February 20, 1994) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of July 1, 2025, he is #15 in the UFC lightweight rankings. Backgr ...

on October 12, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 244. He lost the fight by technical knockout via ground elbows and punches in the second round. García was scheduled to face Joaquim Silva on March 29, 2025 at

UFC on ESPN 64 ''UFC on ESPN: Moreno vs. Erceg'' (also known as ''UFC on ESPN 64'') was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on March 29, 2025, at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico. Background The event ma ...

. However, Silva withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by

Vinc Pichel Vincent Alan Pichel (born November 23, 1982) is an American former professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, achieving a 7-5 record in the promotion. A professional since 200 ...

. García defeated Pichel via unanimous decision. García is scheduled to face

Jared Gordon Jared Gordon (born September 6, 1988) is an American mixed martial artist. He was the lightweight champion of Duelo de Gigantes in Mexico and featherweight champion for Cage Fury Fighting Championships in the United States. He competes in the li ...

on September 13, 2025, at UFC Fight Night 259.

Personal life

García and his wife have a daughter (born 2019) and a son (born 2021), both born in Mexicali, Mexico.

Championships and accomplishments

** Combate Americas Lightweight Championship (one time; first; former) ***One successful title defense

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 16–4 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , UFC on ESPN: Moreno vs. Erceg , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

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, TKO (elbows and punches) , UFC Fight Night: Royval vs. Taira , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:42 ,

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 15–3 ,

, Decision (unanimous) , UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

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Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

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, Decision (unanimous) , Combate 55 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Mexicali Mexicali (; ) is the capital city of the States of Mexico, Mexican state of Baja California. The city, which is the seat of the Mexicali Municipality, has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the Calexico–Mexicali, Cale ...

, Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 10–0 , Erick Gonzalez , Decision (unanimous) , Combate 44 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 9–0 , Estevan Payan , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Combate 39 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:50 ,

Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 8–0 , Edgar Escarrega , Submission (rear-naked choke) , Combate 30 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:07 ,

, Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 7–0 ,

LaRue Burley LaRue Burley (born April 25, 1984) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of the XFC. A professional competitor since 2012, he has also fought in WSOF, Bellator MMA, King of the Cage and the RFA. M ...

, KO (punches) , Combate 24 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:26 ,

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 6–0 , Chase Gibson , Decision (majority) , Combate 20 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 5–0 , Marcos Bonilla , Submission (armbar) , Combate 17 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 1:07 ,

Redlands, California Redlands ( ) is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 73,168, up from 68,747 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The city is located a ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 4–0 , Raúl Najera Ocampo , Submission (heel hook) , Combate 10 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 1:04 ,

, Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Jovany Amador , Submission (armbar) , Warrior Championship Fighting 8 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:21 ,

, Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Mike Sandoval , Submission (armbar) , Warrior Championship Fighting 6 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:24 ,

, Mexico , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Dante Ramos , Submission (armbar) , Extreme Full Contact 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 2:06 ,

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References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:García, Rafa 1994 births Living people Mexican male mixed martial artists Lightweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Mixed martial artists utilizing wrestling Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters Mexican practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu 21st-century Mexican sportsmen