| John Moraga | |
|---|---|
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| Born | (1984-03-20)March 20, 1984 (age 41) Phoenix,Arizona, United States |
| Nickname | Chicano |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[1] |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
| Division | Flyweight Bantamweight Featherweight |
| Reach | 66 in (168 cm)[1] |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Fighting out of | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Team | Arizona Combat Sports MMA Lab |
| Wrestling | NCAADivision IWrestling[2] |
| Years active | 2009–present (MMA) 2012, 2019–present (boxing) |
| Professional boxing record | |
| Total | 4 |
| Wins | 1 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By knockout | 1 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 26 |
| Wins | 19 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 8 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 7 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By submission | 1 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Other information | |
| University | Arizona State University |
| Notable school | Maryvale High School |
| Boxing record fromBoxRec | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
John Anthony Moraga[3] (born March 20, 1984) is an Americanmixed martial artist and amateur wrestler who competed as aflyweight. He is best known for his lengthy career in theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC), which saw him challenge for theUFC Flyweight Championship in 2013.
Moraga was born and raised inPhoenix, Arizona. He is ofMexican descent. Moraga attendedMaryvale High School and then chose to go toArizona State University where he was a two-time University Freestyle All-American wrestler for theSun Devils. He graduated from Arizona State University with a degree ininterdisciplinary studies.[4]
Moraga started his professional career at 2009 in Arizona for the local organization Rage in the Cage. There he achieved an undefeated record of 6–0, until his fight againstJohn Dodson in 2010, in which he lost via unanimous decision. He then won five straight bouts, and was signed by the UFC in 2012.
Moraga was expected his promotional debut againstIan McCall on August 4, 2012 atUFC on Fox 4.[5] However, McCall was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced byUlysses Gomez.[6] Moraga won the fight via KO in the first round.[7]
Moraga next facedChris Cariaso on December 29, 2012 atUFC 155.[8] Moraga was victorious with a third round guillotine choke submission. His victory also earned himSubmission of the Night honors.[9]
Moraga was expected to faceUFC Flyweight ChampionDemetrious Johnson for the title on April 13, 2013 atThe Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.[10] However, Johnson was forced out of the bout with an injury and Moraga was removed from the event as well.[11]
Moraga eventually facedDemetrious Johnson atUFC on Fox 8 on July 27, 2013. Moraga showed promise in the first round as he landed some good strikes standing. However, the champion began to wear him down with his wrestling. Despite hurting Johnson in the fourth round with a punch, he lost the fight via submission in the fifth round.[12]
Moraga was expected to faceDarren Uyenoyama on December 14, 2013 atUFC on Fox 9.[13] However, Moraga pulled out of the bout with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alptekin Ozkilic.[14]
Moraga facedDustin Ortiz on January 15, 2014 atUFC Fight Night 35.[15] He won the fight via split decision.[16]
A rematch withJohn Dodson took place on June 7, 2014 atUFC Fight Night 42.[17] He lost the fight via TKO due to a doctor stoppage between rounds two and three after a knee Dodson threw late in the second round broke Moraga's nose.[18]
Moraga facedJustin Scoggins on September 5, 2014 atUFC Fight Night 50.[19] Moraga defeated Scoggins via submission in the second round, securing a guillotine choke after being taken down.[20]
Moraga was expected to faceJussier Formiga on December 13, 2014 atUFC on Fox 13.[21] However, Formiga pulled out of the fight on November 21 and was replaced byWillie Gates.[22][23] Moraga won the fight via submission in the third round.[24]
Moraga facedJoseph Benavidez on May 23, 2015 atUFC 187.[25] Moraga lost the back and forth fight via unanimous decision.[26]
Moraga facedMatheus Nicolau on July 8, 2016 atThe Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale[27] He lost the fight via split decision.[28]
Moraga was expected to faceZach Makovsky on December 10, 2016 atUFC 206.[29] However, Moraga pulled out of the fight in early November citing injury and was replaced byDustin Ortiz.[30]
Moraga next facedSergio Pettis on January 15, 2017 atUFC Fight Night 103.[31] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[32]
Moraga faced promotional newcomerAshkan Mokhtarian on June 11, 2017 atUFC Fight Night 110.[33] He won the one-sided fight by unanimous decision.[34]
Moraga facedMagomed Bibulatov on October 7, 2017 atUFC 216.[35] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[36] This win earned him thePerformance of the Night award.[37]
Moraga facedWilson Reis on April 14, 2018 atUFC on Fox 29.[38] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[39]
Moraga facedDeiveson Figueiredo on August 25, 2018 atUFC Fight Night 135.[40] He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.[41]
On February 7, 2019, it was reported that Moraga was released from the UFC, which would be confirmed by then-UFC Flyweight ChampionHenry Cejudo.[42]
Moraga was supposed to faceHector Sandoval at ARES 2 on April 3, 2020.[43] However, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed until October 30, 2020, before being cancelled altogether.[44]
Just before joining ranks of the UFC, Moraga made his professional boxing debut against Jose Marrufo, losing the bout via unanimous decision.
After he was released from the UFC in 2019, he continued with his boxing career by defeating Brandon Foss via technical knockout in the second round.[45]
| 25 matches | 17 wins | 8 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 2 |
| By submission | 8 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 5 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 19–7 | Deiveson Figueiredo | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Gaethje vs. Vick | August 25, 2018 | 2 | 3:08 | Lincoln, Nebraska, United States | |
| Win | 19–6 | Wilson Reis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Poirier vs. Gaethje | April 14, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 18–6 | Magomed Bibulatov | KO (punch) | UFC 216 | October 7, 2017 | 1 | 1:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 17–6 | Ashkan Mokhtarian | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Lewis vs. Hunt | June 11, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
| Loss | 16–6 | Sergio Pettis | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn | January 17, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 16–5 | Matheus Nicolau | Decision (split) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale | July 8, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 16–4 | Joseph Benavidez | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 187 | May 23, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 16–3 | Willie Gates | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: dos Santos vs. Miocic | December 13, 2014 | 3 | 4:06 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 15–3 | Justin Scoggins | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC Fight Night: Jacare vs. Mousasi | September 5, 2014 | 2 | 0:47 | Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States | |
| Loss | 14–3 | John Dodson | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov | June 7, 2014 | 2 | 5:00 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States | |
| Win | 14–2 | Dustin Ortiz | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rockhold vs. Philippou | January 15, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Duluth, Georgia, United States | |
| Loss | 13–2 | Demetrious Johnson | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga | July 27, 2013 | 5 | 3:43 | Seattle, Washington, United States | For theUFC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–1 | Chris Cariaso | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 155 | December 29, 2012 | 3 | 1:11 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Submission of the Night. |
| Win | 12–1 | Ulysses Gomez | KO (elbows and punches) | UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera | August 4, 2012 | 1 | 3:46 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Flyweight debut. |
| Win | 11–1 | Jose Carbajal | Decision (unanimous) | Cage Rage: On the River 2 | July 7, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Parker, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 10–1 | Maurice Senters | Decision (unanimous) | Rage in the Cage 160 | June 22, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | Won the RITC Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 9–1 | Matthew Garcia | Submission (armbar) | Coalition of Combat: The Bangers Ball | February 25, 2012 | 1 | 3:10 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 8–1 | Freddie Lux | Submission (guillotine choke) | Trilogy Championship Fighting: Rumble at the Ranch 2 | November 5, 2011 | 1 | 0:49 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Won the TCF Bantamweight Championship. |
| Win | 7–1 | Nathaniel Baker | Submission (armbar) | Martinez Brothers Production: Sun City Battle | July 9, 2011 | 3 | 2:27 | El Paso, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 6–1 | John Dodson | Decision (unanimous) | Nemesis Fighting: MMA Global Invasion | December 11, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Punta Cana, Dominican Republic | |
| Win | 6–0 | Aldo Escudero | Decision (unanimous) | Rage in the Cage 143 | July 31, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Travis Halverson | Submission (guillotine choke) | Rage in the Cage 142 | June 26, 2010 | 1 | 1:17 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Pat Donovan | Submission (triangle choke) | Rage in the Cage 140 | March 20, 2010 | 2 | 1:12 | Chandler, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Evan Morton | Decision (unanimous) | Rage in the Cage 139 | February 13, 2010 | 3 | 3:00 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Al Decastro | TKO (punches) | Rage in the Cage 138 | December 4, 2009 | 1 | 1:15 | Mesa, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Sam Shapiro | Decision (unanimous) | Rage in the Cage 136 | November 7, 2009 | 3 | 3:00 | Prescott Valley, Arizona, United States |
| 4 fights | 1 win | 3 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 1 | 1 |
| By decision | 0 | 2 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Loss | 1–3 |  Marc Castro | TKO | 2 (4),2:29 | 27 Feb 2021 | Hard Rock Stadium,Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S. | ||
| 3 | Loss | 1–2 | Duke Ragan | UD | 4 | 3 Oct 2020 | MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | ||
| 2 | Win | 1–1 | Brandon Foss | TKO | 2 (4),1:30 | 12 Oct 2019 | Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino,Chandler, Arizona, US | ||
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 |  Jose Marrufo | UD | 4 | 12 Apr 2012 | El Zaribah Shriners Auditorium,Phoenix, Arizona, US |