Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico

Last updated
Ultimate Warrior Challenge México
Company typePrivate
Industry Mixed martial arts promotion
Founded2009;16 years ago (2009)
FounderAlejandro Islas
Headquarters
Tijuana, Baja California
,
Mexico
Website uwc.com.mx

Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico (UWC Mexico) is a Mexican mixed martial arts promotion based in Tijuana, Baja California. The company was founded in 2009, making it one of the longest-running in the country. [1] [2]

Contents

As the longest-running MMA company in the country, UWC has produced names such as Gabriel Benítez, Raul Rosas Jr., [3] Brandon Moreno, Henry Briones, among others. [4]

History

Founded in 2009, UWC Mexico held its first event on February 28th at the Tijuana Municipal Auditorium, titled UWC: Baja California vs. California, featuring talent from the Baja California Peninsula and Southern California. [5] [6]

On May 30th, 2009, at the UWC: Furia Cachanilla event, the inaugural UWC champion was revealed. In the main event, Akbarh Arreola defeated Adam Lehman in 49 seconds to become the company's welterweight champion. [7] The aforementioned event also marked the first time a women's fight took place in the history of Mexican MMA. There, Margarita De La Cruz Ramírez and Cristina Marks, making their professional debut, faced off in a close fight, with Ramírez winning by submission in the first round. [8]

In 2015, shortly after UWC Mexico 14, the promotion discontinued its sporting activities for unknown reasons, causing its fighters to move to other national promotions such as Xtreme Fighters Latino; some of them would later sign with LUX Fight League. Four years passed before UWC returned, with UWC Mexico 20: Legacy held on August 24, 2019. [9] [10]

In 2021, UWC announced an exclusive multi-year streaming agreement with UFC Fight Pass. [11] In January 2024, UWC CEO Alejandro Islas announced the renewal of contract with them. [12]

Current champions

DivisionUpper weight limitChampionSinceTitle Defenses
Heavyweight 120 kg (264.6 lb) Flag of Mexico.svg Jesús NavarreteJuly 3, 2020 (UWC 22)1
Middleweight 84 kg (185.2 lb) Flag of Mexico.svg Nayib LópezJuly 28, 2024 (UWC 54)0
Welterweight 77 kg (169.8 lb) Flag of Argentina.svg Adrián OviedoFebruary 25, 2024 (UWC 51)0
Lightweight 70 kg (154.3 lb) Flag of Brazil.svg Adriano NunesJuly 28, 2023 (UWC 46)0
Featherweight 66 kg (145.5 lb) Flag of the United States.svg Dorian RamosOctober 28, 2022 (UWC 39)3
Bantamweight 61 kg (134.5 lb) Flag of Ecuador.svg Adrián Luna MartinettiFebruary 25, 2024 (UWC 51)1
Flyweight 57 kg (125.7 lb) Flag of Argentina.svg Braián GonzálezFebruary 24, 2023 (UWC 41)4
Women's Strawweight 52 kg (114.6 lb)Vacant/-

UWC Mexico title history

Men's Heavyweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReign
(total)		Defenses
1 Flag of Mexico.svg Jesús Navarrete
def. Eliezer Ortega		UWC Mexico 22
Tijuana, Mexico		Jul 3, 2020

1. def. Enrique Lara at UWC Mexico 24 on Nov 24, 2020

Men's Middleweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReign
(total)		Defenses
1 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Padilla
def. David Mariscal		UWC Mexico 9
Tijuana, Mexico		Mar 25, 2011?
Padilla vacated the title.
2 Flag of Argentina.svg Antonio Gordillo
def. Ricardo Chávez Villaseñor		UWC Mexico 45
Tijuana, Mexico		Jul 2, 2023392

1. def. Victor de Paula at UWC Mexico 48 on Sept 23, 2023

3 Flag of Mexico.svg Nayib LópezUWC Mexico 34
Tijuana, Mexico		Jul 28, 2024

Men's Welterweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReign
(total)		Defenses
1 Flag of Mexico.svg Akbarh Arreola
def. Adam Lehman		UWC Mexico 2
Tijuana, Mexico		May 30, 2009?

1. def. Matt Lagler at UWC Mexico 6 on Apr 24, 2010
2. def. Jorge López at UWC Mexico 8 on Oct 16, 2010

Arreola vacated the title.
2 Flag of Mexico.svg Jesús Sánchez
def. Christopher Ortega		UWC Mexico 11
Tijuana, Mexico		Oct 1, 20111113

1. def. Christopher Ortega at UWC Mexico 13 on Mar 2, 2013

3 Flag of Mexico.svg Iván CastilloUWC & EVT: Sánchez vs. Castillo
Tijuana, Mexico		Oct 18, 2014?
During Castillo's reign, the title was deactivated due to the promotion's temporary closure.
4 Flag of Mexico.svg Iván Castillo (2)
def. Leonardo Blasco 		UWC Mexico 26
Tijuana, Mexico		Apr 30, 2021?
Castillo vacated the title.
5 Flag of Argentina.svg Adrián Oviedo
def. Carlos Camargo		UWC Mexico 51
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 25, 2024

Men's Lightweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReign
(total)		Defenses
1 Flag of Mexico.svg David Mariscal
def. Miguel Pardinas		UWC Mexico 3
Tijuana, Mexico		Jul 18, 2009?

1. def. Leobardo López Caloca at UWC Mexico 4 on Nov 29, 2009

Mariscal vacated the title and it was later deactivated due to the temporary closure of the promotion.
2 Flag of Mexico.svg Akbarh Arreola
def. Gammaliel Escarrega		UWC Mexico 20
Tijuana, Mexico		Aug 24, 2019?
Arreola vacated the title.
3 Flag of Mexico.svg Edgar Escarrega
def. Fabian Quintanar		UWC Mexico 21
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 29, 2020?
Escarrega vacated the title.
4 Flag of Mexico.svg José Luis Verdugo
def. Carlos Cañada 		UWC Mexico 24
Tijuana, Mexico		Nov 13, 2020?

1. def. Alexander Barahona at UWC Mexico 26 on Apr 30, 2021

Verdugo vacated the title.
5 Flag of Mexico.svg Pablo Sabori
def. Ángel Rodríguez		UWC Mexico 33
Tijuana, Mexico		Apr 29, 2022?

1. def. Alberto Sánchez at UWC Mexico 40 on Nov 25, 2022

Sabori vacated the title.
6 Flag of Brazil.svg Adriano Nunes
def. Marco Antonio Elpidio		UWC Mexico 46
Tijuana, Mexico		Jul 28, 2023

Men's Featherweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReign
(total)		Defenses
1 Flag of Mexico.svg Antonio Duarte
def. Rafael Salomão		UWC Mexico 3
Tijuana, Mexico		Jul 18, 2009?

1. def. Juan Manuel Torres at UWC Mexico 4 on Nov 28, 2009

Duarte vacated the title.
2 Flag of Mexico.svg Gabriel Benítez
def. Manuel Ramos Gallareta		UWC Mexico 5
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 13, 2010?

1. def. Raúl Bellereza at UWC Mexico 9 on Mar 25, 2011
2. def. Jorge Alberto Bustamante at UWC Mexico 12 on Mar 24, 2012

During Benítez's reign, the title was deactivated due to the promotion's temporary closure.
3 Flag of Mexico.svg Luis Meraz
def. Miguel Enrique Torres		UWC Mexico 21
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 29, 20201000
4 Flag of the United States.svg Dorian RamosUWC Mexico 39
Tijuana, Mexico		Oct 28, 2022

1. def. Mauricio Eguiluz at UWC Mexico 41 on Feb 24, 2023
2. def. José Peñaloza at UWC Mexico 43 on Apr 28, 2023
3. def. Esteban Sedano at UWC Mexico 52 on Apr 7, 2024

Men's Bantamweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReign
(total)		Defenses
1 Flag of Mexico.svg Alex Soto
def. Rafael Salomão		UWC Mexico 6
Tijuana, Mexico		Apr 24, 2010?

1. def. Brady Harrison at UWC Mexico 9 on Mar 25, 2011

Soto vacated the title.
2 Flag of the United States.svg Walel Watson
def. Ismael León		UWC Mexico 10
Tijuana, Mexico		Jun 25, 2011?
Watson vacated the title.
3 Flag of Mexico.svg Antonio Barajas
def. Brady Harrison		UWC Mexico 13
Tijuana, Mexico		Mar 2, 2013?
Barajas vacated the title.
4 Flag of Mexico.svg Antonio Duarte
def. Marcos Beristain		UWC & EVT: Duarte vs. Beristaín
Tijuana, Mexico		May 17, 2014?
During Duarte's reign, the title was deactivated due to the promotion's temporary closure.
5 Flag of Mexico.svg Antonio Duarte (2)
def. Erik Radleim		UWC Mexico 20
Tijuana, Mexico		Aug 29, 2019?
Duarte vacated the title.
6 Flag of Mexico.svg Christian Quiñónez
def. Donny Matos		UWC Mexico 25
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 26, 2021?
Quiñónez vacated the title.
7 Flag of Ecuador.svg Adrián Luna Martinetti
def. Brandon Uruchurtu		UWC Mexico 31
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 25, 2022?

1. def. Juan Campos at UWC Mexico 35 on Jun 24, 2022
2. def. Donny Matos at UWC Mexico 42 on Mar 31, 2023

Luna Martinetti vacated the title.
8 Flag of Mexico.svg Mahatma García
def. Juan Pablo González		UWC Mexico 50
Tijuana, Mexico		Nov 24, 202393
9 Flag of Ecuador.svg Adrián Luna Martinetti (2)UWC Mexico 51
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 25, 2024

Men's Flyweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReign
(total)		Defenses
1 Flag of Mexico.svg Iván López
def. Kevin Amador		UWC & EVT: Duarte vs. Beristaín
Tijuana, Mexico		May 17, 20141930
2 Flag of France.svg Antoine HidrioUWC Mexico 20
Tijuana, Mexico		Aug 29, 2019184
3 Flag of Mexico.svg Jesús Santos AguilarUWC Mexico 21
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 29, 2020607

1. def. Edgar Chairez at UWC Mexico 23 on Sept 4, 2020

Aguilar vacated the title.
4 Flag of Brazil.svg Sóslenis Carvalho
def. Paulino Siller		UWC Mexico 29
Tijuana, Mexico		Oct 1, 2021238
5 Flag of Brazil.svg João CamiloUWC Mexico 34
Tijuana, Mexico		May 27, 2022273
6 Flag of Brazil.svg Braián GonzálezUWC Mexico 41
Tijuana, Mexico		Feb 24, 2023

Women's Strawweight Championship

No.NameEventDateReign
(total)		Defenses
1 Flag of Mexico.svg Yazmin Jauregui
def. Annely Jiménez García		UWC Mexico 24
Tijuana, Mexico		Nov 13, 2020272
Jauregui vacated the title.

List of events

#EventDateVenueLocation
58UWC México 57: Villegas vs. ZapienTBAAuditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
57UWC México 56: Leyva vs. ChavezApril 6, 2025Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana Tijuana, Mexico
56UWC México 55: Lavado vs. MuñozFebruary 23, 2025Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
55UWC México 54: Gordillo vs. LópezJuly 28, 2024Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
54UWC México 53: Elías vs. MezaMay 19, 2024Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
53UWC México 52: Ramos vs. SedanoApril 7, 2024Zonkeys Arena Tijuana, Mexico
52UWC México 51: García vs. LunaFebruary 25, 2024Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
51UWC México 50: González vs. GarcíaNovember 24, 2023Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
50UWC México 49: Oviedo vs. ZadruzynskiOctober 27, 2023Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
49UWC México 48: Gordillo vs. De PaulaSeptember 29, 2023Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
48UWC México 47: El Hazoume vs. RamosAugust 25, 2023Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
47UWC México 46: Elpidio vs. NunesJuly 28, 2023Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
46UWC México 45: Chávez vs. Gordillo 2July 2, 2023Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
45UWC México 44: Prototipo vs. El ReyMay 26, 2023Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
44UWC México 43: Ramos vs. PeñalozaApril 28, 2023Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
43UWC México 42: Luna vs. MatosMarch 31, 2023Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
42UWC México 41: Mascarado vs. PrototipoFebruary 24, 2023Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
41UWC México 40: Sabori vs. SánchezNovember 25, 2022Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
40UWC México 39: Meráz vs. RamosOctober 28, 2022Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
39UWC México 38: Neto vs. BarezSeptember 30, 2022Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
38UWC México 37: Sánchez vs. GranadosAugust 26, 2022Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
37UWC México 36: Díaz vs. GarcíaJuly 29, 2022Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
36UWC México 35: Luna vs. CamposJune 24, 2022El Foro Tijuana, Mexico
35UWC México 34: Carvalho vs. CamiloMay 27, 2022Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
34UWC México 33: Sabori vs. RodríguezApril 29, 2022El Foro Tijuana, Mexico
33UWC México 32: Sánchez vs. ValenciaMarch 25, 2022Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
32UWC México 31: Luna vs. UruchurtuFebruary 25, 2022Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
31UWC México 30: Leyva vs. GaleraNovember 26, 2021Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
30UWC México 29: Meráz vs. RiveroOctober 1, 2021Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
29UWC México 28: Luna vs. BenitezAugust 13, 2021Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
28UWC México 27: Torres vs. CanadaJune 11, 2021Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
27UWC México 26: Verdugo vs. BarahonaApril 30, 2021Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
26UWC México 25: Quinóñez vs. MatosFebruary 26, 2021Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
25UWC México 24: Friday The 13thNovember 13, 2020Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
24UWC México 23: SupremacySeptember 4, 2020Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
23UWC México 22: Total WarJuly 3, 2020Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
22UWC México 21: Bloody Valentine Part DeuxFebruary 29, 2020Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
21UWC México: New Blood 3October 23, 2019Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles (CICTAC) Tijuana, Mexico
20UWC México 20: LegacyAugust 24, 2019Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
19UWC México 14: Bravo vs. SuruyJune 27, 2015ONIXEUS Tijuana, Mexico
18UWC & EVT: Sánchez vs. CastilloOctober 18, 2014ONIXEUS Tijuana, Mexico
17UWC & EVT: Duarte vs. BeristaínMay 17, 2014Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
16UWC México: New Blood 2April 28, 2013ONIXEUS Tijuana, Mexico
15UWC México: Benítez vs. OropezaMarch 2, 2013Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
14UWC México 12: Never TapMarch 24, 2012Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
13UWC México: New Blood 1January 29, 2012Score Sports Bar Tijuana, Mexico
12UWC México 11: Born AgainOctober 1, 2011Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
11UWC México 10: To the EdgeJune 25, 2011Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
10UWC México 9.5: IguanaApril 30, 2011Restaurante Iguana Rana Tijuana, Mexico
9UWC México 9: They're BackMarch 25, 2011Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
8UWC México 8: Mexican ChampionshipsOctober 16, 2010Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
7UWC México 7: EvolutionJune 26, 2010Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
6UWC México 6: Hecho en MéxicoApril 24, 2010Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
5UWC México 5: Bloody ValentineFebruary 13, 2010Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
4UWC México 4: RenacimientoNovember 28, 2009Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
3UWC México 3: Tijuana vs. BrazilJuly 18, 2009Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
2UWC México 2: Furia CachanillaMay 30, 2009Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
1UWC México 1: Baja California vs. CaliforniaFebruary 28, 2009Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico

References

  1. ↑ Angulo Álvarez, Marcos (2021-02-01). "UWC se fortalece". Semanario Zeta (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  2. ↑ "UWC firma exitoso regreso y Jesús 'Tanque' Navarrete retiene el título". Diario MMA (in Spanish). 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  3. ↑ "Raul Rosas Jr. "El Niño Problema" Record: 8-1-0, Stats, and Past Fights". verdictmma.com.
  4. ↑ Danny Segura (2021-01-10). "How the UFC's developmental program in Latin America has paid off – but can still grow". MMAjunkie.com . Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  5. ↑ "UWC 1: Baja California vs. California". Tapology.
  6. ↑ "UWC Mexico 1: Baja California vs. California | Resultados de la pelea". ESPN. 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  7. ↑ "UWC Mexico 2: Cachanilla Fury | Resultados de la pelea". ESPN. 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
  8. ↑ "Ultimate Warrior Challenge (Mexico) - UWC MEXICO 2". Sherdog.com. 2009-05-30. Retrieved 2025-03-21.
  9. ↑ "Serán 9 peleas para UWC: Legacy". El Sol de Tijuana. 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  10. ↑ "Recta final para UWC Legacy". elmexicano.com (in Spanish). 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  11. ↑ "UFC Cuts Multi-Event Partnership With Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico". LV SportBiz. 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
  12. ↑ "Renueva UWC contrato con UFC Fight Pass". ElVigia (in Spanish). 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.