Manuel Torres, head-and-shoulders portrait

Manuel Torres

Lightweight
Switch
16 finishes
Record Record: 17-4-0
Wins
17
Losses
4
Draws
0
9KO/TKO
7Sub
1Dec
View full record ↓

Vitals

Height, reach, and career background.

Age
31
Height
5′10″1.78 m
Reach
74″187 cm
Stance StanceWhich side a fighter leads from — a striking term, not a religious one. Orthodox: right-handed, left foot and hand forward (the common default). Southpaw: the mirror image, right side forward (usually a left-hander). Switch: changes between the two during a fight.
Switch
Weight class
Lightweight
Nationality
Mexico
Team
Aldama's Muay Thai Gym · Tijuana
Active
2014–present

Record

Tap expandable fights for their breakdowns.

LossRecord after fight: 17-4-0KO
Opponent: Rafael Fiziev, their record after the fight: 14-5-0spinning wheel kick and punchesR2 0:15

The opening round was competitive, with Fiziev mixing takedowns and counters while Torres pressed forward. Fiziev spun through a wheel kick 15 seconds into round two and dropped Torres. He followed with ground strikes as Torres tried to rise, forcing the stoppage.

Key moments

  • Fiziev mixed takedowns and counters while Torres continued to press forward in round one.
  • Fiziev's wheel kick dropped Torres 15 seconds into the second round.
  • Fiziev followed with strikes on the mat to secure the stoppage.
WinRecord after fight: 17-3-0TKO
Opponent: Grant Dawson, their record after the fight: 23-3-1punchesR1 2:25
UFC 323
6 Dec 2025

Torres needed only one clean opening to turn the Dawson matchup. He stayed patient early, found the timing on Dawson's entries, and then detonated a left hook that put Dawson down before the follow-up hammerfists ended it at 2:25 of the first round.

Key moments

  • Torres stayed measured early instead of sprinting straight into Dawson's wrestling range.
  • A left hook landed on the button and dropped Dawson in the middle of the first round.
  • Torres followed immediately with heavy hammerfists to force the referee stoppage at 2:25.
WinRecord after fight: 16-3-0TKO
Opponent: Drew Dober, their record after the fight: 27-15-0punchesR1 1:45
UFC on ESPN: Moreno vs. Erceg
29 Mar 2025

Back in Mexico, Torres overwhelmed Drew Dober before the fight could develop into a drawn-out brawl. He hurt Dober early, swarmed with clean follow-up punches, and finished the veteran inside two minutes for another statement first-round UFC knockout.

Key moments

  • Torres opened aggressively and found Dober's chin before the bout settled into range.
  • Once Dober was hurt, Torres poured on straight punches and never gave him room to recover.
  • The referee waved it off at 1:45 of round one as Torres closed out another fast UFC finish.
LossRecord after fight: 15-3-0TKO
Opponent: Ignacio Bahamondes, their record after the fight: 16-5-0punchesR1 4:02
UFC 306
14 Sep 2024

Bahamondes hurt Torres multiple times before closing the show late in the opening round, handing him a first-round stoppage loss in Las Vegas.

Key moments

  • Bahamondes used his length to meet Torres on the way in instead of letting him build his usual pressure rhythm.
  • Torres was knocked down more than once during the opening round as Bahamondes's counters piled up.
  • With Torres already damaged, Bahamondes finished with punches at 4:02 of round one.
WinRecord after fight: 15-2-0SUB
Opponent: Chris Duncan, their record after the fight: 11-2-0rear-naked chokeR1 1:46
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2
24 Feb 2024

Torres showed the non-boxing side of his finishing game in Mexico City. After pressuring Duncan into a scramble, he climbed straight to the back and finished the rear-naked choke at 1:46 of the first round for another Performance of the Night bonus.

Key moments

  • Torres forced an early scramble instead of letting Duncan strike comfortably at range.
  • He transitioned quickly to Duncan's back once the fight hit the mat.
  • The rear-naked choke was fully locked in by 1:46 of round one, forcing the tap.
  • The finish reminded everyone that Torres's first-round danger includes submissions as well as knockouts.
WinRecord after fight: 14-2-0KO
Opponent: Nikolas MottaelbowR1 1:50
UFC on ESPN: Vettori vs. Cannonier
17 Jun 2023

As Motta stepped into range again, Torres timed a standing elbow that shut the fight down instantly at 1:50 of the opening round.

Key moments

  • Motta had early success, landing the better shots in the opening exchanges before Torres reset.
  • Torres pawed his way back into range and met Motta with a perfectly timed standing elbow.
  • The elbow landed flush and ended the fight at 1:50 of round one without the need for extended follow-up.
WinRecord after fight: 13-2-0TKO
Opponent: Frank CamachopunchesR1 3:27
UFC on ESPN: Błachowicz vs. Rakić
14 May 2022

Torres announced himself in his UFC debut by meeting Camacho's brawl with heavier, cleaner offense. He repeatedly beat Camacho to the punch in the pocket, then slipped a return and dropped him with a left-right combination before the referee stepped in.

Key moments

  • Torres hurt Camacho almost immediately with a left hook and never looked uncomfortable in the exchanges.
  • He mixed hooks, uppercuts, and clinch knees as Camacho tried to force his way inside.
  • A slipped punch created the finish, with Torres flooring Camacho off a left-hook, right-hook combination.
  • The stoppage came at 3:27 of round one and gave Torres a successful, bonus-winning UFC debut.
WinRecord after fight: 12-2-0TKO
Opponent: Kolton EnglundpunchesR1 2:10
Dana White's Contender Series 45
26 Oct 2021

Torres controlled the striking from long range on Contender Series, picking Englund apart with low kicks, jabs, and straight punches.

Key moments

  • Torres used his reach well early, landing low kicks, one-twos, and a long jab before the fight broke open.
  • Englund's takedown try led into a messy close-range sequence, and Torres quickly re-established the striking battle.
  • When Englund backed straight up, Torres chased him down and dropped him with a pair of punches.
WinRecord after fight: 11-2-0SUB
Opponent: Carlos Canadaguillotine chokeR1 0:25
UWC Mexico 27
11 Jun 2021
WinRecord after fight: 10-2-0SUB
Opponent: Daniel Vegarear-naked chokeR1 1:03
RRR Promotions: El Combate 6
14 Mar 2020

Torres made quick work of Vega at El Combate 6, turning the fight into another first-round submission win. He got to the back early and finished the rear-naked choke a little more than a minute into the bout.

Key moments

  • Torres pushed the pace from the start rather than letting Vega settle into a measured fight.
  • The key transition came when Torres took the back in the opening minute.
  • Once the choke was locked, Vega had to tap at 1:03 of round one.
  • It extended Torres's pattern of fast finishes after his 2019 setback.
LossRecord after fight: 9-2-0SUB
Opponent: Carlos CalvokneebarR1 1:23
Crixus MMA 01
12 Sep 2019

Calvo handed Torres a sharp first-round setback in Tijuana by attacking the leg early and finishing a kneebar.

Key moments

  • The bout ended before Torres could establish the aggressive rhythm that usually carried his early fights.
  • Calvo found the leg attack quickly and forced Torres into a defensive scramble.
  • The kneebar finish was secured at 1:23 of round one.
  • It was Torres's first defeat since 2018 and a reminder that his all-action style also created submission risk.
WinRecord after fight: 9-1-0SUB
Opponent: Luis Cervantesrear-naked chokeR1 0:53
Hardcore Fighter 4
23 Feb 2019

Torres rebounded from the Mahatma Garcia loss with another immediate finish at Hardcore Fighter 4. He forced the grappling exchange he wanted, found the back, and ended the fight with a rear-naked choke in 53 seconds.

Key moments

  • Torres came back from his previous defeat with obvious urgency and pace.
  • He turned the fight into a mat exchange almost immediately instead of staying at range.
  • The rear-naked choke was finished 53 seconds into round one.
LossRecord after fight: 8-1-0SUB
Opponent: Mahatma Garcíaheel hookR1 0:59
Hardcore Fighter 3
3 Nov 2018

Garcia caught Torres quickly in Cancun and finished a heel hook before the fight could become the kind of pressure battle Torres preferred. The submission came 59 seconds into the opening round and handed Torres an abrupt loss in the main event.

Key moments

  • The matchup ended inside a minute, giving Torres almost no time to build offense.
  • Garcia attacked the leg immediately and forced Torres into a fast submission defense.
  • The heel hook finish was complete at 0:59 of round one.
  • Torres answered the setback with four straight wins in his next appearances.
WinRecord after fight: 8-0-0SUB
Opponent: Adonilton Matosrear-naked chokeR1 2:21
Beat Down MMA 3
18 Aug 2018

After already going three rounds earlier in the night, Torres came back and finished Matos inside a single round. He worked to the back and closed the show with a rear-naked choke at 2:21, capping a two-win evening at Beat Down MMA 3.

Key moments

  • Torres fought twice on the same Beat Down MMA 3 card and still found another finish in the second outing.
  • He pushed Matos into grappling exchanges instead of settling for a tired kickboxing match.
  • Back control led directly to the rear-naked choke finish at 2:21 of round one.
  • The result completed a same-night split-decision win and submission win for Torres.
WinRecord after fight: 7-0-0DEC
Opponent: Enrique GonzálezsplitR3 5:00
Beat Down MMA 3
18 Aug 2018
WinRecord after fight: 6-0-0SUB
Opponent: Julio Ramírezshoulder chokeR1 1:15
Hardcore Fighter 1
23 Mar 2018

Torres stayed true to his early-finishing identity at Hardcore Fighter 1 by submitting Ramirez in just 75 seconds. He found the opening on the mat and closed the fight with a shoulder choke before the first round could settle.

Key moments

  • Torres ended the fight quickly rather than allowing a slow feeling-out process.
  • The decisive grappling exchange came early in the opening round.
  • Ramirez tapped to the shoulder choke at 1:15 of round one.
WinRecord after fight: 5-0-0TKO
Opponent: Orlando MacíaspunchesR1 4:21
The Art of Fighting: In Search of Glory
2 Sep 2017

Torres spent more time working for the finish than he did in some of his quicker wins, but he still got Macias out before the first horn. Sustained punching pressure produced the stoppage at 4:21 of round one.

Key moments

  • The fight pushed deeper into the opening round than many of Torres's shortest finishes.
  • Torres still dictated the action with forward pressure and punch volume.
  • The referee halted it at 4:21 of round one after Torres's punches accumulated enough damage.
WinRecord after fight: 4-0-0KO
Opponent: Andrés Bacabody kickR1 0:12
Red Cage 5
11 Jun 2016

There was no extended exchange, only an instant opening and an immediate knockout.

Key moments

  • The bout lasted only 12 seconds from the opening bell.
  • Torres found the body kick almost immediately and ended the fight with a single clean strike.
  • Because the knockout came so fast, Baca never had a chance to force a longer exchange.
  • The finish showed how quickly Torres could end a fight even without needing follow-up punches or grappling.
WinRecord after fight: 3-0-0TKO
Opponent: Jesús TejedaretirementR1 2:07
Red Cage 1
15 Aug 2015

Torres stayed on the front foot against Tejeda until the bout was stopped on a first-round retirement. The contest ended at 2:07 of round one, giving Torres another early win during his first full years as a pro.

Key moments

  • Torres kept the fight moving at a pace Tejeda could not match for long.
  • The stoppage was recorded as a retirement rather than a one-shot knockout or submission.
  • Officially, the end came at 2:07 of round one.
  • It continued Torres's trend of ending fights before the opening frame was over.
WinRecord after fight: 2-0-0SUB
Opponent: Raúl Armasguillotine chokeR1 0:50
World Best Gladiators 8
18 Apr 2015
WinRecord after fight: 1-0-0TKO
Opponent: Ever AlvaradopunchesR1
World Best Gladiators 2
24 May 2014

The Read

Style, strengths, and defining traits.

Manuel Torres began training at 19. His credentials include a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt and 145-pound titles with Beat Down and Triple RRR; he names the double-leg takedown and spinning kick as favorite techniques.

Licensed Fight Videos

Verified licensed uploads linked to an exact recorded bout.

See all Manuel Torres videos in the library