Javier Vazquez (fighter) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Javier Vazquez is an Cuban-American

Cuban American

A Cuban American is a United States citizen who traces his or her "national origin" to Cuba. Cuban Americans are also considered native born Americans with Cuban parents or Cuban-born persons who were raised and educated in US...

mixed martial artist

Mixed martial arts

Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...

currently fighting for The UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...

's featherweight division. He was previously fighting for the WEC

World Extreme Cagefighting

World Extreme Cagefighting was an American mixed martial arts promotion. It was purchased by Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of Ultimate Fighting Championship , in 2006. In its final incarnation, it was made up of 3 weight classes: 135, 145 and 155 lbs. To accommodate the smaller...

before the UFC merged the promotions in 2010. He is the son-in-law of Rorion Gracie

Rorion Gracie

Rorion Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor, a prominent member of the Gracie family, and a founder of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is the oldest son of Hélio Gracie and one of the few people in the world to hold a 9th degree red belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,...

Biography

Born in Santiago

Santiago de Cuba

Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....

, Cuba

Cuba

The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...

on April 27, 1976, Javier Vazquez came to the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

at the age of four. He grew up in El Monte, California

El Monte, California

El Monte is a residential, industrial, and commercial city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The city's slogan is "Welcome to Friendly El Monte," and historically is known as "The End of the Santa Fe Trail." As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 113,475,...

and started wrestling as a sophomore at Arroyo High School

Arroyo High School (El Monte, California)

Arroyo High School, located in El Monte, California, United States, is a school in the El Monte Union High School District. The attendance area served by Arroyo High School consists of four different communities: El Monte, Temple City, Arcadia, and an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County...

at the age of 15. In 1994 he placed 3rd at the CIF wrestling tournament and continued his stellar high school career by placing 4th in the Southern Section Masters tournament. He was just one match away from placing in the high school state wrestling championships, ending up in the top 12 in the state at 130 lbs. He was voted team captain in both his junior and senior years. He continued his wrestling career at Mt. San Antonio College

Mt. San Antonio College

Mt. San Antonio College is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut, California, 2.12 miles west of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona ....

where he again proved himself to be one of “the best of the best” by finishing 7th in the state and being voted team captain for his leadership on and off the mat.

In 1997 Javier started learning Jiu-Jitsu under the renowned Carlson Gracie Team

Carlson Gracie

Carlson Gracie, Sr. was a practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was the eldest son of Carlos Gracie, founder of the system with his uncle Hélio Gracie, and learned the art from his uncle and his father. He was a member of the legendary Gracie family.- Biography :Carlson Gracie would later split...

. He competed in every Jiu-Jitsu and submission tournament he could and eventually found himself in the fight game. His first no-holds-barred match was at Neutral Grounds in 1998 which resulted in a decision. Several more fights in smaller venues followed and he then took time off from fighting to train and compete in Jiu-Jitsu. After only 5 years of training he earned his black belt from the Carlson Gracie Team.

In 2005 Javier won the North American Trials for the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship

ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship

The ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship is a competition involving professional athletes who have been successful at the highest levels of jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, sambo, shooto and mixed martial arts...

. But dropped out before competition due to a torn groin injury.

In December 2009 Javier was named the "most inspirational performance of the decade" in MMA by Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...

magazine for his fight against Alberto Crane

Alberto Crane

Alberto Lewis Crane is an American mixed martial artist. He currently fights as a lightweight. He has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is a former King of the Cage and Ring Of Fire lightweight champion.-Biography:...

where he fought 3 rounds with a torn ACL.

He went on to fight for Elite XC and was able to break free from his contract before the company folded. He signed to fight against LC Davis at the Affliction: Trilogy

Affliction: Trilogy

Affliction: Trilogy was a mixed martial arts event scheduled to be promoted by Affliction Entertainment on August 1, 2009 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California....

but the event folded 10 days before the fight was supposed to take place and following that both fighters signed with the WEC

World Extreme Cagefighting

.

Vazquez made his WEC debut against LC Davis

LC Davis

La Carvas Rashad Davis is an American mixed martial artist. He has competed in the IFL promotion, Affliction Entertainment and is currently signed with WEC.-Amateur wrestling:Davis attended Missouri Valley College while earning a...

at WEC 42

WEC 42

WEC 42: Torres vs. Bowles was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on August 9, 2009 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NevadaThe event drew an estimated 670,000 viewers on Versus.-Preliminary card:...

, losing a split decision. He rebounded quickly as he replaced an injured Mark Hominick

Mark Hominick

Mark Hominick is a Canadian mixed martial artist, former TKO Featherweight Champion, and current UFC fighter. Hominick is currently ranked as the #4 featherweight fighter in the world by MMAWeekly.-Mixed martial arts career:...

against Deividas Taurosevicius

Deividas Taurosevičius

Deividas Taurosevičius is a Lithuanian mixed martial artist.-Career:Taurosevičius started his professional MMA career in 2002, primarily competing on cards in Massachusetts and New Jersey...

at WEC 43

WEC 43

WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on October 10, 2009 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.-Background:...

but lost another decision.

Vazquez faced and defeated former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver

Jens Pulver

Jens Johnnie Pulver is an American mixed martial artist . He was the first Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight champion and was a coach on the The Ultimate Fighter 5 reality show, which aired on Spike TV. He was formerly signed as a featherweight with World Extreme Cagefighting , which is...

on March 6, 2010 at WEC 47

WEC 47

WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on March 6, 2010. It was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio-Background:...

Vazquez defeated Mackens Semerzier

Mackens Semerzier

Mackens Semerzier is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Semerzier has mostly fought in Virginia...

via second round submission on August 18, 2010 at WEC 50

WEC 50

WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on August 18, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...

.

Vazquez was defeated by Chad Mendes

Chad Mendes

Chad Edward Mendes is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-High school:Mendes finished 8th in the state of California , wrestling for Hanford High School. In 2002, he finished 5th at 114 lbs. and in 2003, he finished third at 121 lbs...

via unanimous decision on November 11, 2010 at WEC 52

WEC 52

WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In October 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting

World Extreme Cagefighting

merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship

Ultimate Fighting Championship

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...

. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC.

Vazquez defeated Joe Stevenson

Joe Stevenson

Joseph Christopher Stevenson is an American mixed martial artist fighting out of Las Vegas, Nevada. Competing as a welterweight, he won The Ultimate Fighter 2 welterweight tournament. Stevenson fought most of his UFC career as a lightweight, and made his featherweight debut at UFC Live: Kongo vs....

via unanimous decision on June 26, 2011 at UFC on Versus 4.

Personal life

Vazquez is married to Rose Gracie, daughter of Rorion Gracie

Rorion Gracie

. Together they have two daughters Railey and Raifa, along with one stepdaughter Stephanie (Rose' daughter from a previous relationship). He currently teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Cucamonga

Rancho Cucamonga was a Mexican land grant in present day San Bernardino County, California given in 1839 to dedicated soldier, smuggler and politician, Tiburcio Tapia by Mexican governor Juan Bautista Alvarado. The grant encompassed present day Rancho Cucamonga...

, California

California

California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

Instructor Lineage

Jigoro Kano → Tsunejiro Tomita

Tsunejiro Tomita

, born , was the earliest disciple of judo. His name appears in the first line of the enrollment book of the Kōdōkan. Tomita, together with Saigō Shirō, became first in history of judo to be awarded black belt grade by the founder of judo Kanō Jigorō, who established the ranking system...

→ Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda

Mitsuyo Maeda

,a Brazilian naturalized as Otávio Maeda,was a Japanese judōka and prizefighter in no holds barred competitions. He was also known as Count Combat or Conde Koma in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese, a nickname he picked up in Spain in 1908...

→ Carlos Gracie, Sr.

Carlos Gracie

Carlos Gracie was the first Gracie to learn Judo from Otávio Mitsuyo Maeda. Based on this judo training, Carlos and his brothers founded the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...

→ Carlson Gracie, Sr. → Rodrigo Medeiros

Rodrigo Medeiros

Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. His nickname, Comprido, is Portuguese for "long". Rodrigo began BJJ at the age of sixteen...

→ Javier Vazquez

Championships and accomplishments

King of the Cage
King of the Cage
King of the Cage, also known as KOTC, is a mixed martial arts promotion based in Southern California, USA.-History:KOTC was founded in 1998 by Terry Trebilcock. KOTC features up and coming MMA stars as well as experienced combat fighters....
- King of the Cage
  King of the Cage
  King of the Cage, also known as KOTC, is a mixed martial arts promotion based in Southern California, USA.-History:KOTC was founded in 1998 by Terry Trebilcock. KOTC features up and coming MMA stars as well as experienced combat fighters....
  
  Lightweight championship (1 time)

Mixed martial arts record

|-
|-
|Win
|align=center|16-5
|

Joe Stevenson

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

||
|-
|Loss
|align=center|15-5
|

Chad Mendes

|Decision (unanimous)
|WEC 52

WEC 52

WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on November 11, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...

, USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|15-4
|

Mackens Semerzier

Mackens Semerzier is an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. A professional MMA competitor since 2008, Semerzier has mostly fought in Virginia...

|Submission (rear-naked choke)
|WEC 50

WEC 50

WEC 50: Cruz vs. Benavidez 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting that took place on August 18, 2010 at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, Nevada.-Background:...

Las Vegas, Nevada

, USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|14-4
|

Jens Pulver

|Submission (armbar)
|WEC 47

WEC 47

WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on March 6, 2010. It was held at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio-Background:...

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...

, USA
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|13-4
|

Deividas Taurosevičius

Deividas Taurosevičius is a Lithuanian mixed martial artist.-Career:Taurosevičius started his professional MMA career in 2002, primarily competing on cards in Massachusetts and New Jersey...

|Decision (split)
|WEC 43

WEC 43

WEC 43: Cerrone vs. Henderson was a mixed martial arts event held by World Extreme Cagefighting on October 10, 2009 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.-Background:...

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...

, USA
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|13-3
|

LC Davis

|Decision (split)
|WEC 42

WEC 42

Las Vegas, Nevada

, USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|13-2
|

Mark Kergosien
|Submission (guillotine choke)
|Ultimate Chaos

Ultimate Chaos

Ultimate Chaos: Lashley vs. Sapp was a mixed martial arts event promoted by Prize Fight MMA and Fight Force International, which took place on June 27, 2009, in Biloxi, Mississippi at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum....

Biloxi, Mississippi

Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....

, USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|12-2
|

Santa Ynez, California

Santa Ynez is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The town of Santa Ynez is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley, and features the Santa Ynez Airport for general aviation with a paved 2804 x 75 foot runway. The population was 4,418...

, USA
|Featherweight Debut
|-
|Win
|align=center|11-2
|

Southaven, Mississippi

-Households And Families:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,977 people, 11,007 households, and 8,134 families residing in the city. The population density was 857.9 people per square mile...

, USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|10-2
|

Rob Emerson

Robert Michael Emerson is an American mixed martial artist. Emerson is a former Pancrase and King of the Cage fighter. He was a cast member of The Ultimate Fighter 5.-The Ultimate Fighter:...

Las Vegas, Nevada

, USA
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|9-2
|

Alberto Crane

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...

, USA
|Lost KOTC Lightweight Championship
|-
|Win
|align=center|9-1
|

San Jacinto, California

San Jacinto is a city in Riverside County, California, U.S.A. It was named after Saint Hyacinth and is located at the north end of the San Jacinto Valley, with Hemet to its south. The mountains associated with the valley are the San Jacinto Mountains. The population was 44,199 at the 2010...

, USA
|Defended KOTC Lightweight Championship
|-
|Win
|align=center|8-1
|

Rumina Sato

is a Japanese mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Shooto organization. Being the first mixed martial artist to beat a black belt Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter by a submission, Sato is considered by many to be an exciting shoot wrestling-based fighter in MMA and has been nicknamed...

|Decision (unanimous)
|Shooto:Professional Shooto JAPAN 2002
|
|align=center|3
|align=center|5:00
|Osaka, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|7-1
|

Reno, Nevada

Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...

, USA
|Defended KOTC Lightweight Championship
|-
|Win
|align=center|6-1
|

San Jacinto, California

, USA
|Won KOTC Lightweight Championship
|-
|Win
|align=center|5-1
|

San Jacinto, California

, USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|4-1
|

San Jacinto, California

, USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|3-1
|

Corona, California

Corona is a city in Riverside County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 152,374, up from 124,966 at the 2000 census...

, USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|2-1
|

Sean Kim
|Submission (armbar)
|Neutral Grounds 5
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|1:37
|USA
|
|-
|Win
|align=center|1-1
|

Kim Kellenberger
|Decision (unanimous)
|Neutral Grounds 5
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|8:00
|USA
|
|-
|Loss
|align=center|0-1
|

Victor Hunsaker
|Decision (unanimous)
|Neutral Grounds 5
|
|align=center|1
|align=center|8:00
|USA
|
|-

External links

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