Javier Vazquez (fighter)

Early life

Born in Santiago, Cuba, on April 27, 1977, Javier Vazquez came to the United States at the age of four. He grew up in El Monte, California, and started wrestling as a sophomore at Arroyo High School 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.

Vazquez continued his wrestling career at Mt. San Antonio College 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, Vazquez started learning jiu-jitsu with the renowned Carlson Gracie Team. He competed in every jiu-jitsu and submission tournament he could and eventually found himself participating in mixed martial arts (MMA). His first no-holds-barred matches were at Neutral Grounds 5 in 1998. Several more fights in smaller venues followed, and he then took time off from fighting to train and compete in jiu-jitsu. After only five years of training, he earned his black belt from the Carlson Gracie Team. In 2005, Vazquez won the North American trials for the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship, but dropped out before competition due to a groin injury.

MMA career

Early career

In December 2009, Vazquez was named the "most inspirational performance of the decade" in MMA by Sports Illustrated magazine for his fight against Alberto Crane where he fought three 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 Affliction: Trilogy, but the event folded 10 days before the fight was supposed to take place.

World Extreme Cagefighting

Vazquez then signed with WEC and made his promotional debut against Davis at WEC 42, In a major upset, Vazquez lost a controversial split decision to Davis. Vazquez rebounded quickly as he replaced an injured Mark Hominick against Deividas Taurosevicius at WEC 43 but lost another split decision.

Vazquez faced and defeated former UFC Lightweight Champion and former WEC featherweight title challenger Jens Pulver via armbar on March 6, 2010, at WEC 47. He defeated decorated grappler Mackens Semerzier via second round submission on August 18, 2010, at WEC 50. Vazquez was defeated by Chad Mendes via unanimous decision on November 11, 2010, at WEC 52.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In October 2010, WEC merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC. Vazquez defeated The Ultimate Fighter 2 winner and former lightweight title contender Joe Stevenson via unanimous decision on June 26, 2011, at UFC on Versus 4.

On January 13, 2013, Vazquez announced on Sherdog Radio Network's Rewind show that he has officially retired from MMA competition.

Personal life

Vazquez was concurrently diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. After undergoing Gerson therapy and defeating cancer, Vazquez opened Javier Vazquez Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Rancho Cucamonga, California. He has recently taken up cycling.

Instructor lineage

Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie Sr. → Carlson Gracie Sr. → Rodrigo Medeiros → Javier Vazquez

Championships and accomplishments

• King of the Cage
  • KOTC Lightweight Championship (One time)

Mixed martial arts record

| ko-wins= | ko-losses= | sub-wins= 11 | sub-losses= | dec-wins= 5 | dec-losses= 5 | dq-wins= | dq-losses= | other-wins=

| | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States | |- | Loss | Chad Mendes | Decision (unanimous) | WEC 52 | | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Win | Mackens Semerzier | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WEC 50 | | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Win | Jens Pulver | Submission (armbar) | WEC 47 | | Columbus, Ohio, United States | |- | Loss | Deividas Taurosevicius | Decision (split) | WEC 43 | | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |- | Loss | LC Davis | Decision (split) | WEC 42 | | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Win | Mark Kergosien | Submission (guillotine choke) | Ultimate Chaos | | Biloxi, Mississippi, United States | |- | Win | JC Pennington | Submission (rear-naked choke) | ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series | | Santa Ynez, California, United States

| | Southaven, Mississippi, United States | |- | Win | Rob Emerson | Decision (split) | Shooto: Warrior Spirit:Evolution | | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Loss | Alberto Crane | Decision (split) | KOTC 21: Invasion | | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

| | San Jacinto, California, United States

| | Osaka, Japan | |- | Win | Sean Wilmot | Submission (armbar) | KOTC 13: Revolution | | Reno, Nevada, United States

| | San Jacinto, California, United States

| | San Jacinto, California, United States | |- | Win | Antonio Emae | Submission (injury) | KOTC 3: Knockout Nightmare | | San Jacinto, California, United States | |- | Win | Louie Cercedez | Submission (armbar) | Empire 1 Official | | Corona, California, United States | |- | Loss | Victor Hunsaker | Decision (split) | |- | Win | Kim Kellenberger | Decision (unanimous) | |- | Win | Sean Kim | Submission (armbar) |

References

References

1. [http://rodrigomedeirosbjj.com/?page_id=203 Rodrigo Medeiros BJJ Revolution Team Black Belts]. URL accessed on June 17, 2020.
2. [http://www.javiervazquez.tv/ Javier Vazquez Biography] {{webarchive. link. (2010-03-23 . URL accessed on March 21, 2010.)
3. "Jens Pulver vs. Javier Vazquez in the works for WEC 47 in March". MMAJunkie.com.
4. (2010-06-24). "Javier Vazquez vs. Mackens Semerzier added to WEC 50 prelims". mmajunkie.com.
5. (2010-09-20). "WEC 52 additions include Mendes-Vazquez". MMAjunkie.com.
6. (October 28, 2010). "UFC and WEC set to merge in 2011; events to air on Versus and Spike TV". mmajunkie.com.
7. (April 4, 2011). "Joe Stevenson heads to featherweight, meets Javier Vazquez at UFC on Versus 4". mmajunkie.com.
8. "With Fights Still Left on UFC Contract, Javier 'Showtime' Vazquez Officially Announces Retirement".
9. BJJEE. (2017-08-16). "Javi Vasquez Reveals Struggle With Colon Cancer, Is Asking For Help".
10. (29 April 2019). "Dare to Win (Javier Vazquez Documentary)".