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Alex Caceres
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Alex Caceres (born June 20, 1988) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional since 2008, Caceres mostly competed in his regional circuit, before signing with the UFC to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck.[4]
Key Information
Mixed martial arts career
[edit]Background
[edit]Caceres comes from Miami, Florida, where he trains at Young Tigers Foundation. Caceres claims to be "inventive and creative" during the fights, often smiling during competition.[4] Caceres also never went the distance in any of his fights prior to joining the TUF cast.[5] Caceres' nickname, "Bruce Leeroy" stems from the character in the film The Last Dragon.[6]
Early career
[edit]Caceres initially fought in an underground backyard street fighting organization in Miami. Caceres mostly appeared in promotions based in Florida. Amongst these was an appearance for the King of the Cage promotion at "King of the Cage: Hurricane" in February 2009. His opponent in that fight was Eric Kovarik, who was coming off multiple consecutive losses. In under two minutes, Caceres submitted his opponent with a rear naked choke.
Caceres then won his next fight against Joel Garcia in May 2009 via submission (triangle choke) early in the first round before going on a two-fight losing streak. These two losses were both by armbar, taking his record to 4-2 at that time.
In his final fight before joining The Ultimate Fighter, Caceres defeated Jahmal McLennan via TKO midway through the third round to snap his losing streak.[7]
The Ultimate Fighter
[edit]Caceres then signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship to appear on The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck.[4]
In the debut episode, Caceres faced Paul Barrow, who was 3-0 going into the show. Caceres, who smiled almost the entire fight, would go to defeat Barrow via submission (rear naked choke) in the first round.[8]
In the second episode, Caceres was picked as GSP's fourth pick (eighth overall). Caceres competed in his preliminary round fight during this episode against Jeff Lentz. Prior to the fight, Lentz's cardio was called into question due to his smoking and drinking. However, Lentz went on to arguably win the first round of the fight against Caceres. Midway through the second round, Caceres locked in a triangle choke, forcing the tapout and advancing him into the quarter-finals.[9]
In episode 8, Team GSP had to pick which team members would fight each other (considering they had 5 members in the quarter-finals). St. Pierre asked each member to pick the fighter they would prefer to fight. Both Caceres and Michael Johnson picked each other and they were scheduled to fight.[10] Johnson defeated Caceres via unanimous decision (20-18, 20-18, 20-18) after two rounds in episode 10.[11]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
[edit]Caceres made his official debut in March 2011 against Mackens Semerzier at UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis.[12] He lost the fight via submission in the first round.[13]
Caceres was expected to face Leonard Garcia August 14, 2011, at UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle.[14] However, Garcia was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by promotional newcomer Jimy Hettes.[15] Caceres was submitted with a rear naked choke at 3:12 of round 2.[16]
Caceres then dropped to the bantamweight division and faced former WEC Bantamweight champion Cole Escovedo on November 12, 2011, at UFC on Fox 1.[17] Caceres won via unanimous decision in a bout where he showed a vastly improved striking and ground game.[18]
Caceres faced Edwin Figueroa on February 4, 2012, at UFC 143[19] but lost the fight in a split decision. Caceres was docked two points by referee Herb Dean for 2 groin strikes.[20]
Caceres next faced Damacio Page on July 11, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman.[21] He won the fight via submission in the second round. The finish also earned him the Submission of the Night honors.[22]
Caceres was expected to face promotional newcomer Kang Kyung-ho on November 10, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV 6.[23] However, Kang was forced out of the bout with an injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Motonobu Tezuka.[24] Caceres defeated the UFC newcomer by split decision.[25]
The fight with Kang was rescheduled for March 3, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 8.[26] Caceres won the back-and-forth fight via split decision. On March 20, 2013, it was announced that Caceres had failed his post fight drug test, testing positive for marijuana. Caceres was subsequently suspended for six months, retroactive to March 3, 2013, and his win over Kang was changed to a No Contest.[27]
Caceres next faced Roland Delorme on September 21, 2013, at UFC 165.[28] He displayed good striking skills and takedown defense, winning the fight via split decision.[29]
Caceres was expected to face Mitch Gagnon on December 7, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 33.[30] However, the bout was scrapped during the week leading up to the event due to an alleged visa issue for Gagnon, restricting his entry to Australia.[31]
Caceres faced Sergio Pettis on January 25, 2014, at UFC on Fox 10.[32] He won the back-and-forth fight by rear-naked choke submission at 4:49 of the third round. The win also earned Caceres his first Fight of the Night and second Submission of the Night bonus awards.[33]
For his tenth fight with the promotion, Caceres faced Urijah Faber at UFC 175 on July 5, 2014.[34] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.[35]
Caceres faced promotional newcomer Masanori Kanehara on September 20, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 52.[36] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[37]
Cacares faced Francisco Rivera on June 6, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 68.[38] He lost the fight via knockout in the first round, marking the first time he has ever been knocked out in his career.[39]
Caceres faced Masio Fullen in a featherweight bout on January 30, 2016, at UFC on Fox 18. He won the fight via unanimous decision.[40]
Caceres next faced Cole Miller on June 4, 2016, at UFC 199.[41] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[42]
Caceres faced Yair Rodríguez in the main event on August 6, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 92.[43] He lost the fight by split decision.[44] The fight was named Fight of the Night and both fighters were awarded a $50,000 bonus.[45]
Caceres would next face Jason Knight on January 28, 2017, at UFC on Fox 23.[46] He lost by submission in the second round.[47]
Caceres faced promotional newcomer Rolando Dy on June 17, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia.[48] Caceres came in strong in round one, knocking Dy off his feet. A brief timeout was called by the referee in round two to check Dy's eye and the fight continued. However, the referee halted the fight at the end of round two due to a doctor's recommendation regarding Dy's eye injury. Dy was noticeably upset by the decision of the referee and Caceres was awarded the win by TKO.[49]
The bout with Wang Guan was rescheduled and eventually took place on November 25, 2017, at UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Gastelum[50] Caceres lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.[51]
Caceres was scheduled to face Artem Lobov on April 7, 2018, at UFC 223, but the fight was cancelled due to Lobov's involvement with the Team McGregor bus melee.[52]
Caceres faced Martin Bravo on July 6, 2018, at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale.[53] He won the fight via split decision.[54] This win earned him the Fight of the Night award.[55]
Caceres faced promotional newcomer Kron Gracie on February 17, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 1.[56] He lost the fight via submission due to a rear-naked choke in the first round.[57]
Caceres faced Steven Peterson on July 20, 2019, at UFC on ESPN 4.[58] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[59]
Caceres faced Chase Hooper on June 6, 2020, at UFC 250.[60] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[61]
Caceres was scheduled to face Giga Chikadze on August 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 175.[62] However, Chikadze withdrew from the bout due to tested positive for COVID-19[63] and he was briefly replaced by promotional newcomer Kevin Croom.[64] Subsequently on the following day, Croom was removed and replaced by Austin Springer.[65] At the weigh-ins, Springer weighed in at 151 pounds, five pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at catchweight and Springer was fined 30% of his purse which went to Caceres.[66] Caceres won the fight by submission in the first round.[67]
Caceres faced Kevin Croom on February 27, 2021, at UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane.[68] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[69]
Caceres faced Seung Woo Choi on October 23, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 196.[70] After surviving an early knockdown and illegal knee, Caceres went on to win the fight via rear-naked choke submission in round two.[71] This win earned him Performance of the Night award.[72]
Caceres faced Sodiq Yusuff on March 12, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 203.[73] Caceres lost the bout via unanimous decision.[74]
Caceres faced Julian Erosa on December 17, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 216.[75] He won the fight via technical knockout in round one.[76] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[77]
Caceres was scheduled to face Nate Landwehr on March 25, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 43.[78] However, Caceres withdrew due to an undisclosed reason and was replaced by Austin Lingo.[79]
Caceres faced Daniel Pineda on June 3, 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46.[80] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[81] The win also earned Caceres his fourth Fight of the Night bonus award.[82]
Caceres faced Giga Chikadze on August 26, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 225.[83] He lost the bout via unanimous decision.[84]
Caceres faced Sean Woodson on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56.[85] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[86] 11 out of 14 media outlets scored the fight for Caceres.[87]
On May 19, 2025, it was reported that Caceres had signed with Dirty Boxing thus ending his career with the UFC.[88]
Dirty Boxing Career
[edit]in June 2025, Caceres debuted with Mike Perry's "Dirty Boxing Championship" promotion, facing Saidyokub Kakhramonov at Dirty Boxing Championship 2. He lost via unanimous decision.[89]
Caceres faced Shawn West at Dirty Boxing Championship 3, winning via TKO in the second round, with one second left on the timer.[90]
Personal life
[edit]Growing up the son of a drug dealer, Caceres grew up in a less affluent neighborhood having a tough upbringing. When his father went to prison, he was molested by a rival drug dealer of his father's. These turmoils led his family to move to a more affluent suburb. He is Cuban and Dominican.[91]
Caceres was influenced by the documentary Forks Over Knives. He is vegan.[92] He has an interest in spirituality.[93]
Championships and accomplishments
[edit]Mixed martial arts
[edit]- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (Four times) vs. Sergio Pettis, Yair Rodríguez, Martín Bravo and Daniel Pineda[94][55][82]
- Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Seung Woo Choi and Julian Erosa[72][77]
- Submission of the Night (Two times) vs. Damacio Page and Sergio Pettis
- Fifth most bouts in UFC Featherweight division history (20)[95]
- UFC.com Awards
- 2014: Ranked #4 Upset of the Year vs. Sergio Pettis[96]
- MMA Junkie
- 2014 January Submission of the Month vs. Sergio Pettis[97]
- Bleacher Report
- 2014 #8 Ranked Fight of the Year vs. Sergio Pettis at UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson[98]
Mixed martial arts record
[edit]| 37 matches | 21 wins | 15 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 1 |
| By submission | 7 | 7 |
| By decision | 10 | 7 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 21–15 (1) | Sean Woodson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento | May 11, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 21–14 (1) | Giga Chikadze | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie | August 26, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Win | 21–13 (1) | Daniel Pineda | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi | June 3, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 20–13 (1) | Julian Erosa | TKO (head kick and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs. Strickland | December 17, 2022 | 1 | 3:04 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 19–13 (1) | Sodiq Yusuff | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev | March 12, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 19–12 (1) | Choi Seung-woo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori | October 23, 2021 | 2 | 3:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Choi was deducted 1 point in round 1 for an illegal knee. Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 18–12 (1) | Kevin Croom | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Rozenstruik vs. Gane | February 27, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 17–12 (1) | Austin Springer | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić | August 29, 2020 | 1 | 3:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (151 lb) bout; Springer missed weight. |
| Win | 16–12 (1) | Chase Hooper | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 250 | June 6, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 15–12 (1) | Steven Peterson | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards | July 20, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | |
| Loss | 14–12 (1) | Kron Gracie | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez | February 17, 2019 | 1 | 2:06 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 14–11 (1) | Martin Bravo | Decision (split) | The Ultimate Fighter: Undefeated Finale | July 6, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 13–11 (1) | Wang Guan | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum | November 25, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Shanghai, China | |
| Win | 13–10 (1) | Rolando Dy | TKO (doctor stoppage) | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia | June 17, 2017 | 2 | 5:00 | Kallang, Singapore | |
| Loss | 12–10 (1) | Jason Knight | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña | January 28, 2017 | 2 | 4:21 | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| Loss | 12–9 (1) | Yair Rodríguez | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres | August 6, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 12–8 (1) | Cole Miller | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 199 | June 4, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Win | 11–8 (1) | Masio Fullen | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Bader | January 30, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Newark, New Jersey, United States | Return to Featherweight. |
| Loss | 10–8 (1) | Francisco Rivera | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Boetsch vs. Henderson | June 6, 2015 | 1 | 0:21 | New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | |
| Loss | 10–7 (1) | Masanori Kanehara | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Hunt vs. Nelson | September 20, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
| Loss | 10–6 (1) | Urijah Faber | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 175 | July 5, 2014 | 3 | 1:09 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–5 (1) | Sergio Pettis | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson | January 25, 2014 | 3 | 4:39 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Submission of the Night. Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 9–5 (1) | Roland Delorme | Decision (split) | UFC 165 | September 21, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |
| NC | 8–5 (1) | Kang Kyung-ho | NC (overturned) | UFC on Fuel TV: Silva vs. Stann | March 3, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | Originally a split decision win for Caceres; overturned after he tested positive for marijuana. |
| Win | 8–5 | Motonobu Tezuka | Decision (split) | UFC on Fuel TV: Franklin vs. Le | November 10, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Macau, SAR, China | |
| Win | 7–5 | Damacio Page | Submission (triangle choke) | UFC on Fuel TV: Munoz vs. Weidman | July 11, 2012 | 2 | 1:27 | San Jose, California, United States | Submission of the Night. |
| Loss | 6–5 | Edwin Figueroa | Decision (split) | UFC 143 | February 4, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Caceres was deducted two points for multiple kicks to the groin. |
| Win | 6–4 | Cole Escovedo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos | November 12, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Anaheim, California, United States | Bantamweight debut. |
| Loss | 5–4 | Jimy Hettes | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle | August 14, 2011 | 2 | 3:12 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |
| Loss | 5–3 | Mackens Semerzier | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Nogueira vs. Davis | March 26, 2011 | 1 | 3:18 | Seattle, Washington, United States | Featherweight debut. |
| Win | 5–2 | Ketema Jahmal McLennan | TKO (punches) | G-Force Fights: Bad Blood 3 | February 4, 2010 | 3 | 2:48 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 4–2 | Matt McCook | Submission (armbar) | WFC: Battle of the Bay 8 | July 10, 2009 | 2 | 3:56 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
| Loss | 4–1 | Farkhad Sharipov | Submission (armbar) | Best of the Best | June 12, 2009 | 3 | 3:01 | Columbus, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Joel Garcia | Submission (triangle choke) | XFN: Da Matta vs. Thorne | May 14, 2009 | 1 | 1:05 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Eric Kovarik | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Hurricane | February 21, 2009 | 1 | 1:58 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Tulio Quintanilla | TKO (punches) | MFA: There Will Be Blood | December 3, 2008 | 2 | 4:14 | Miami, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Eric Luke | Submission (armbar) | G-Force Fights: Bad Blood 1 | November 6, 2008 | 2 | 1:45 | Miami, Florida, United States |
| Exhibition record breakdown | ||
| 3 matches | 2 wins | 1 loss |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 2–1 | Michael Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck | November 17, 2010 (airdate) | 2 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | The Ultimate Fighter 12 Quarter-finals. |
| Win | 2–0 | Jeff Lentz | Submission (triangle choke) | September 22, 2010 (airdate) | 2 | 2:27 | The Ultimate Fighter 12 Preliminary bout. | ||
| Win | 1–0 | Paul Barrow | Submission (rear-naked choke) | September 15, 2010 (airdate) | 1 | 3:55 | The Ultimate Fighter 12 house entry bout. |
Submission grappling record
[edit]| 3 Matches, 1 wins 2 Loss 1 draw | |||||||
| Result | Rec. | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1–2–1 |  Nathaniel Wood |
Submission (rear-naked choke) | Polaris 27 | 23 March 2024 |  Newport, Wales
| |
| Loss | 1–1–1 |  Pat Sabatini |
Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fury Pro Grappling 6 | 30 December 2022 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| |
| draw | 1–0–1 | Clay Guida |
Draw | Fury Pro Grappling 5 | August 27, 2022 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| |
| Win | 1–0 | Eddy Torres |
Submission (rear-naked choke) | Fury Pro Grappling 3 | December 30, 2021 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| |
Dirty Boxing Record
[edit]| 2 matches | 1 win | 1 loss |
| By knockout | 1 | 0 |
| By decision | 0 | 1 |
| Res | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1-1 | Shawn West | TKO (Body Shot to Ground and Pound) | Dirty Boxing Championship 3 | 29 August, 2025 | 2 | 2:59 | The Hangar at Regatta Harbour, Miami, Florida, USA | |
| Loss | 0-1 | Saidyokub Kakhramonov | Decision (Unanimous) | Dirty Boxing Championship 2 | 14 June, 2025 | 3 | 3:00 | The Hangar at Regatta Harbour, Miami, Florida, USA | Dirty Boxing Debut |
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "Alex Caceres". fightmetric.com.
- ^ Danny Segura (February 25, 2020). "Renewed Alex Caceres ready to return to UFC competition: 'I needed time off'". mmajunkie.com.
- ^ Jordy McElroy (January 26, 2014). "UFC on Fox 10: What We Learned from Sergio Pettis vs. Alex Caceres". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Meet the cast for "The Ultimate Fighter 12," field includes 28 lightweights". mmajunkie.com. August 3, 2010. Archived from the original on August 6, 2010.
- ^ "Spike TV unveils TUF 12 cast: Alex Caceres". sherdog.com. August 3, 2010.
- ^ "Alex Caceres kicks". spike.com. August 19, 2010.
- ^ "Alex Caceres wins 'Bad Blood 3' MMA battle over Jahmal McLennan". sun-sentinel.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ "Episode no.1 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck"". mmajunkie.com. September 16, 2010. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010.
- ^ "Episode No. 2 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck"". mmajunkie.com. September 22, 2010. Archived from the original on September 25, 2010.
- ^ "Episode No. 8 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck"". mmajunkie.com. November 4, 2010. Archived from the original on November 7, 2010.
- ^ "Episode No. 10 recap: "The Ultimate Fighter 12: Team GSP vs. Team Koscheck"". mmajunkie.com. November 18, 2010. Archived from the original on November 20, 2010.
- ^ ""Bruce Leroy" vs. Mackens Semerzier in the works for UFC Fight Night 24". mmajunkie.com. December 30, 2010. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012.
- ^ Thomas, Luke (March 26, 2011). "UFC Fight Night 24 Results: Mackens Semerzier Chokes Out Alex Caceres". sbnation.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "Alex Caceres vs. Leonard Garcia slotted for UFC on Versus 5". MMAjunkie.com. May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on May 28, 2011.
- ^ "Leonard Garcia out, Jimy Hettes in against "Bruce Leroy" at UFC on Versus 5". mmajunkie.com. August 2, 2011. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011.
- ^ Al-Shatti, Shaun (August 14, 2021). "UFC On Versus 5 Results: Jimy Hettes Submits Alex Caceres In Octagon Debut". sbnation.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "Alex Caceres drops to bantamweight, fights Cole Escovedo at UFC on FOX 1". mmajunkie.com. October 5, 2011. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011.
- ^ Roling, Leland (November 12, 2011). "UFC on Fox Results: Alex Caceres Upsets Cole Escovedo". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "Alex Caceres vs. Edwin Figueroa added to UFC 143". mmajunkie.com. November 17, 2011. Archived from the original on November 19, 2011.
- ^ Martin, Josh (February 5, 2012). "UFC 143 Results: Loss to Edwin Figueroa Kills Alex Caceres' Shot at Contention". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "UFC on FUEL TV 4 adds Page vs. Caceres". mmajunkie.com. May 24, 2012. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012.
- ^ Schlinsky, Alex (June 11, 2012). "UFC on FOX 10: Watch Alex Caceres submit Damacio Page". fansided.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "Report: UFC Signs Korean Bantamweight Champ, Kyung Ho Kang for Macau Event". July 27, 2012.
- ^ "Kyung Ho Kang out, Motonobu Tezuka meets Alex Caceres at UFC on FUEL TV 6". mmajunkie. November 2, 2012. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
- ^ MMA Junkie Staff (November 10, 2012). "UFC on FUEL TV 6 results: Alex Caceres edges fellow showman Motonobu Tezuka". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "Alex Caceres vs. Kyung Ho Kang Confirmed for UFC on Fuel 8". mmaweekly.com. December 13, 2012.
- ^ John Petit (March 20, 2013). "Alex Caceres Fails UFC On Fuel 8 Drug Test". fighters.com. Archived from the original on April 9, 2013.
- ^ John Petit (August 4, 2013). "Roland Delorme Vs Alex Caceres Tapped For UFC 165". Fighters.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
- ^ Marrocco, Steven (September 21, 2013). "UFC 165 results and photos: Alex Caceres outworks Roland Delorme for split call". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ Adam Ireland (October 9, 2013). "Alex "Bruce Leeroy" Caceres takes on Mitch Gagnon in Brisbane". MMAKanvas.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
- ^ Staff (December 2, 2013). "Alex Caceres vs. Mitch Gagnon scratched from Friday's UFC Fight Night 33 main card". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
- ^ Dave Reid (December 19, 2013). "Alex Caceres vs Sergio Pettis Expected For UFC on FOX 10". mmainsider.net. Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
- ^ Staff (January 25, 2014). "UFC on FOX 10 bonuses: Caceres earns $100K, Cerrone and Pettis each pocket $50K". mmajunkie.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2014.
- ^ Brett Okamoto (May 14, 2014). "Urijah Faber-Alex Caceres set". ESPN. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
- ^ Ryan Yamamoto (July 5, 2014). "Urijah Faber dominates at UFC 175, wins by rear naked choke". news10.net. Archived from the original on July 12, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
- ^ Staff (August 8, 2014). "Alex Caceres replaces Urijah Faber, meets Masanori Kanehara at UFC Fight Night 52". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 8, 2014.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (September 20, 2014). "UFC Fight Night 52 results: Masanori Kanehara outworks Alex Caceres for decision". MMAJunkie.com. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
- ^ Damon Martin (April 14, 2015). "Francisco Rivera vs. Alex Caceres joins UFC Fight Night in New Orleans". foxsports.com. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
- ^ Damon Martin (June 6, 2015). "Francisco Rivera needs just 21 seconds to finish Alex Caceres". foxsports.com. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
- ^ Steven Marrocco (January 30, 2016). "UFC on FOX 18 results: Alex Caceres takes wide decision over Masio Fullen". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
- ^ Tristen Critchfield (May 25, 2016). "Alex Caceres replaces B.J. Penn, meets Cole Miller at UFC 199 on June 4". sherdog.com. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (June 4, 2016). "UFC 199 results: Alex Caceres' striking game on point in unanimous decision win over Cole Miller". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
- ^ Danny Segura (June 9, 2016). "Yair Rodriguez vs. Alex Caceres in the works for UFC event in Utah". mmafighting.com. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
- ^ Brent Brookhouse (August 7, 2016). "UFC Fight Night 92 results: Yair Rodriguez tops Alex Caceres by split decision in Hollywood-style brawl". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ Mike Sloan (August 7, 2016). "UFC Fight Night 92 bonuses: Yair Rodriguez, 'Bruce Leeroy' pocket $50K". sherdog.com. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
- ^ Tristen Critchfield (January 10, 2017). "UFC on Fox 23 opdate: Alex Caceres to meet Jason Knight in Denver on Jan. 28". sherdog.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ Ben Fowlkes (January 28, 2017). "UFC on FOX 23 results: Jason Knight chokes out Alex Caceres in second round". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
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- ^ "UFC Fight Night 111 results: After eye injury, Alex Caceres gets TKO win over Rolando Dy". MMAjunkie. June 17, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
- ^ DNA, MMA (October 9, 2017). "Poging 2 : Alex Caceres vs. Wang Guan tijdens UFC Shanghai". mmadna.nl. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
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- ^ Tristen Critchfield (May 8, 2018). "Alex Caceres to face Martin Bravo at 'TUF 27' Finale in Las Vegas on July 6". sherdog.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
- ^ "Alex Caceres Slugs Way to Split Decision Over Martin Bravo". MMAmania.com. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
- ^ a b "TUF 27 Finale post-fight bonuses: Adesanya wins rare POTN bonus without a finish". Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on April 14, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
- ^ Staff (December 13, 2018). "UFC on ESPN 1 card in Phoenix filling up with new matchups, UFC 233 fight scratches". MMAjunkie. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
- ^ "UFC on ESPN 1 results: Kron Gracie picks up family's first UFC win since 1994, submitting Alex Caceres". MMAjunkie. February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
- ^ Lee, Alexander K. (May 16, 2019). "UFC San Antonio bouts announced, including Liz Carmouche vs. Roxanne Modafferi, Aleksei Oleinik vs. Walt Harris". MMA Fighting. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- ^ Harshman, Heath (July 20, 2019). "UFC San Antonio Results: Alex Caceres Sticks and Moves His Way to Win Over Steven Peterson". Cageside Press. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
- ^ Staff (May 22, 2020). "Alex Caceres meets Chase Hooper at UFC 250". mmadna.nl. Retrieved May 22, 2020. (in Dutch)
- ^ Nalan King (June 6, 2020). "UFC 250 results: Alex Caceres dominates Chase Hooper for unanimous decision victory". MMA Junkie. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ DNA, MMA (July 17, 2020). ""Bruce Leeroy" treft Giga Chikadze tijdens UFC evenement op 8 augustus". MMA DNA. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ Lee, Alexander K. (August 28, 2020). "Giga Chikadze withdrawal from UFC Vegas 8 was due to positive COVID-19 test". MMA Fighting. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ Redatie (August 26, 2020). "Alex Caceres has new opponent in Kevin Croom" (in Dutch). mmadna.com. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
- ^ Farah Hannoun (August 27, 2020). "With Kevin Croom out, Austin Springer steps in to face Alex Caceres at UFC on ESPN+ 33". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Staff (August 28, 2020). "UFC on ESPN+ 33 weigh-in results: Two fighters miss, but headliner set". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Bitter, Shawn (August 29, 2020). "UFC Vegas 8 Results: Submission-Fest Continues, Alex Caceres Forces Tap From Austin Springer". Cageside Press. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- ^ DNA, MMA (December 28, 2020). "Alex Caceres vs. Kevin Croom ingepland voor UFC evenement op 27 februari". MMA DNA. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (February 27, 2021). "UFC Vegas 20 Results: Alex Cacares Defeats Kevin Croom for Fourth Straight Win". Cageside Press. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ DNA, MMA (September 9, 2021). "Alex Caceres vs. Seung Woo Choi toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 23 oktober". MMA DNA. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
- ^ Evanoff, Josh (October 23, 2021). "UFC Vegas 41 Results: Alex Caceres Gets Comeback Submission Win Over Seung Woo Choi". Cageside Press. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Stafflanguage=en-US (October 24, 2021). "UFC Fight Night 196 bonuses: Marvin Vettori gets extra $50,000 – but none for Paulo Costa". MMA Junkie. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ^ DNA, MMA (January 3, 2022). "Alex Caceres treft Sodiq Yusuff tijdens UFC evenement op 12 maart". MMA DNA. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ Anderson, Jay (March 12, 2022). "UFC Vegas 50: Leg Kicks Pave Way to Victory for Sodiq Yusuff Against Alex Caceres". Cageside Press. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
- ^ Zane Simon (November 2, 2022). "Alex Caceres set to face Julian Erosa in final UFC event of 2022". bloodyelbow.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Doherty, Dan (December 17, 2022). "UFC Vegas 66: Alex Caceres Stops Julian Erosa with Beautiful Head Kick". Cageside Press. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- ^ a b Taylor, Chris (December 18, 2022). "UFC Vegas 66 Bonus Report: Drew Dober among four fighters to take home $50k | BJPenn.com". | BJPenn.com. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
- ^ Nolan King (January 12, 2023). "UFC adds Alex Caceres vs. Nate Landwehr to San Antonio lineup". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
- ^ Zdun, Hubert (March 13, 2023). "Nate Landwehr zmierzy się z Austinem Lingo na UFC San Antonio | MMAROCKS". MMA Rocks! (in Polish). Retrieved March 15, 2023.
- ^ "Jim Miller set for 42nd UFC fight, meets Ludovit Klein in Las Vegas". MMA Junkie. April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Richardson, Andrew (June 3, 2023). "Caceres Decisions Pineda In Wild Barn-Burner Brawl". MMAmania.com. Retrieved June 4, 2023.
- ^ a b UFC Staff Report (June 3, 2023). "Bonus Coverage - UFC Fight Night - Kara-France vs Albazi". ufc.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ "UFC books Alex Caceres vs. Giga Chikadze for Singapore". MMA Junkie. July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ Law, Eddie (August 26, 2023). "Giga Chikadze Declares The Return Of The "Giga Show", Earns Decision Victory Over Caceres". Cageside Press. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Alex Caceres to Face Sean Woodson at UFC on ESPN 56 in St. Louis on May 11". Sherdog. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
- ^ Rush, Dylan (May 12, 2024). "UFC St. Louis: Fighting at Home, Sean Woodson Extends Streak, Tops Alex Caceres". Cageside Press. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
- ^ MMA Decisions (May 11, 2024). "MMA Decisions - Sean Woodson defeats Alex Caceres". mmadecisions.com. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ Christopher De Santiago (May 19, 2025). "Fan-favorite shockingly leaves UFC after 30 fights and almost 15 years in the Octagon". bloodyelbow.com. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
- ^ "Dirty Boxing 2 results: Jairzinho Rozenstruik wins debut, has heated post-fight faceoff". MMA Junkie. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ^ Heck, Mike (August 29, 2025). "DBX 3 Results: Rozenstruik vs. Cleveland". MMA Fighting. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
- ^ UFC fighter interview Brendan Fitzgerald & Alex Caceres - Fitz Nation Podcast, retrieved June 16, 2022
- ^ "Twelve years into UFC career, Alex Caceres thinks he’s finally hitting prime: ‘It’s beginning to come together’". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
- ^ "Alex Caceres - Express Yourself". kr.ufc.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "UFC Fight Night 92 Bonuses: Yair Rodriguez, 'Bruce Leeroy' Pocket $50K". Sherdog. Retrieved July 7, 2018.
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- ^ a b Sherdog.com. "Alex". Sherdog. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
External links
[edit]Alex Caceres
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early Life
Childhood and Family
Alex Caceres was born on June 20, 1988, in Miami, Florida, to a family of mixed Cuban and Dominican descent that faced financial challenges throughout his early years.[1] Raised primarily in the Kendall area of Florida, Caceres grew up in a non-affluent household where economic limitations restricted access to structured activities or formal training opportunities during his childhood.[9] His family life took a significant turn when Caceres was eight years old, as his father was sentenced to two years in prison for drug-related charges, specifically selling drugs. This incarceration introduced instability, with the family becoming targets of threats from rivals, culminating in a home robbery that forced them to relocate to a more affluent neighborhood in Florida for safety. These events exacerbated the household's economic hardships and contributed to a sense of displacement during his formative years. Caceres also faced racism and teasing from peers and family regarding his physical appearance, such as skin color and hair, which led to body dysmorphia and further challenges to his self-perception.[9] To navigate these difficulties, young Caceres demonstrated early self-reliance by taking on various jobs, which helped support the family while also funding his personal pursuits, including eventual entry into martial arts as a means of coping with adversity. This period of limited resources and family upheaval shaped his resilience, limiting extracurricular involvement until his adolescence.[10][9]Introduction to Martial Arts
Alex Caceres began training in martial arts at the age of 14 amid informal street fighting and backyard brawls in Florida, where financial constraints limited access to structured training, leading him to self-teach the basics through observation and practice.[1][11] These early experiences, often inspired by local underground fight scenes like those involving Kimbo Slice, served as his initial entry into martial arts, driven partly by family hardships that motivated him to seek discipline and self-improvement through combat sports.[12] By his mid-teens, Caceres began formal training at local gyms in Florida, starting with Brazilian jiu-jitsu to build a ground-based foundation before expanding into wrestling and Muay Thai during his late teens, which helped develop his versatile striking and grappling skills.[9] He demonstrated dedication by cycling miles to these sessions, prioritizing rigorous practice over social activities.[12] Caceres competed in amateur MMA bouts on regional Florida circuits before his professional debut, refining his adaptable fighting style blending submissions, takedowns, and stand-up techniques. Seeking advanced opportunities, he relocated to New York at approximately age 18 and trained at the Renzo Gracie Academy, where he honed his Brazilian jiu-jitsu under coaches like John Danaher.[13]Professional MMA Career
Early Fights
Caceres transitioned from an amateur background to professional mixed martial arts in 2008, making his debut at age 20 in Florida's regional scene. On November 6, 2008, he faced Eric Luke at G-Force Fights: Bad Blood and secured a quick submission victory via armbar in the second round at 1:45, establishing early momentum against a lesser-known opponent.[14] Less than six weeks later, on December 13, 2008, Caceres defeated Tulio Quintanilla by TKO (punches) in the second round at 4:14 during MFA: There Will Be Blood, further showcasing his aggressive style in local promotions.[2] Building on his initial success, Caceres notched two more submission wins in 2009, compiling a 4-0 record with three early finishes that highlighted his grappling prowess. On February 21, 2009, he submitted Eric Kovarik via rear-naked choke in the first round at 1:58 at KOTC Underground 29: Hurricane.[15] Three months later, on May 14, 2009, he triangled Joel Garcia for a submission win at XFN: Da Matta vs. Thorne. These victories came in regional promotions including G-Force Fights, MFA, KOTC, and XFN, where Caceres demonstrated submission expertise against regional competition.[2] Caceres' unbeaten run ended in mid-2009 with back-to-back submission losses, adjusting his record to 4-2. On June 12, 2009, he tapped to an armbar from Farkhad Sharipov in the third round at BOTB: Best of the Best. A month later, on July 10, 2009, Matt McCook submitted him via armbar in the second round at 3:56 during WFC: Battle of the Bay 8.[14] In 2010, Caceres rebounded with a TKO (punches) victory over Ketema Jahmal McLennan in the third round at 2:48 on February 4 at G-Force Fights: Bad Blood 3, a performance that underscored his developing grappling dominance seen in prior armbar and choke finishes.[2]The Ultimate Fighter
Alex Caceres was selected as one of the 32 lightweight prospects for The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 in 2010, entering the competition with a professional record of 5-2 and training out of the Young Tigers Foundation in Miami, Florida.[2] At age 21, he was drafted eighth overall to Team Georges St-Pierre during the team selection process at the UFC Training Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, where the fighters trained under the guidance of UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and his coaches, including Firas Zahabi and Shawn Franek.[16] The season's tryouts had taken place earlier in the year, with Caceres advancing through elimination bouts to secure his spot on the show.[17] In the opening round fight, aired on episode two and taped on June 5, 2010, Caceres faced Team Koscheck's Jeff Lentz and secured a submission victory via rear-naked choke at 1:43 of the second round, demonstrating his grappling versatility by transitioning from striking exchanges to a dominant ground position.[2] This win advanced him to the quarterfinals, where he drew teammate Michael Johnson due to intra-team seeding adjustments stemming from performance evaluations. On July 6, 2010, in a bout taped for episode ten, Caceres lost a unanimous decision to Johnson after three rounds, with judges scoring it 29-28 across the board; the fight showcased Caceres' cardio as he maintained pressure despite Johnson's superior striking output.[2] Although eliminated from tournament contention, Caceres impressed UFC officials with his overall showings and resilience, earning him a UFC contract shortly after filming concluded.[18] Throughout the season, which aired weekly on Spike TV from September 15, 2010, to December 2, 2010, Caceres became known for his lighthearted yet disruptive personality, often engaging in pranks that tested team dynamics on the close-knit Team GSP.[19] Notable incidents included replacing Nam Phan's fabric softener with bleach, which drew backlash from housemates and briefly isolated him within the group, as well as a heated verbal altercation with fellow Team GSP member Sevak Magakian that nearly escalated to a physical confrontation before being diffused by others.[20] These moments highlighted the intense living conditions in the fighter house but also contributed to Caceres' personal growth, as he later reflected on learning discipline and focus under St-Pierre's mentorship, refining his unorthodox fighting style amid the high-stakes environment.[21] The experience provided Caceres with valuable exposure, earning him the affectionate nickname "Bruce Leroy" from fans and coaches, inspired by his energetic, improvisational approach reminiscent of the film The Last Dragon.[1]UFC Tenure
Alex Caceres entered the UFC through his participation on The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 in 2010, securing a contract that launched his long tenure with the promotion. His UFC debut came on March 26, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 24, where he lost to Mackens Semerzier by submission (rear-naked choke) in the first round. Despite the defeat, Caceres demonstrated resilience, compiling a 16-13 record with one no contest over 30 UFC fights spanning from 2011 to 2024, characterized by a mix of flashy submissions, durable decision wins, and challenges against ranked opponents.[22][2] Transitioning primarily to the bantamweight division early in his UFC run, Caceres achieved a signature victory over Sergio Pettis via rear-naked choke in the third round at UFC on Fox 10 on January 25, 2014, earning Fight of the Night honors for the thrilling back-and-forth exchange. His career featured notable ups and downs, including a unanimous decision win over Masio Fullen in 2016 after shifting back to featherweight, contrasted by losses to top contenders such as Urijah Faber (submission in the first round at UFC 175 in 2014) and Edwin Figueroa (split decision at UFC 159 in 2013). These bouts highlighted Caceres' evolving striking and grappling, though inconsistent performances against elite competition often stalled momentum.[23][24][25] In the later stages of his tenure, Caceres experienced a resurgence with a split decision victory over Martin Bravo at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale on July 6, 2018, reigniting recognition of his TUF roots and contributing to a subsequent four-fight win streak from 2019 to 2021 that included submissions and knockouts against opponents like Kevin Croom and Andre Fili. However, setbacks persisted, including a six-month suspension in 2013 for marijuana metabolites following a no-contest change against Kyung Ho Kang, with additional medical suspensions in 2015 and 2016 impacting his activity after a knockout loss to Francisco Rivera. His final UFC appearance was a unanimous decision defeat to Sean Woodson on May 11, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 56.[10][26] Following the Woodson loss, Caceres entered a prolonged inactivity period from mid-2024 through early 2025, during which contract renewal discussions with the UFC faltered amid frustrations over booking delays and limited opportunities for a veteran fighter. This stretch underscored broader trends in his career, where bursts of entertaining, high-volume performances were tempered by weight class adjustments—from bantamweight back to featherweight in 2015—and occasional disciplinary issues, ultimately leading to the end of his 14-year Octagon journey.[27][28][1]Post-UFC Developments
Caceres was released from the UFC on May 19, 2025, concluding a tenure that spanned 14 years and 30 professional bouts within the promotion.[29] The departure stemmed from extended inactivity—his last UFC fight occurred in 2024—coupled with delays in contract negotiations amid the ESPN broadcasting era.[27] In a subsequent interview, Caceres expressed that the promotion's prolonged booking process while awaiting a new deal prompted his exit, allowing him to pursue opportunities elsewhere.[27] Following his release, Caceres made his debut outside the UFC at Dirty Boxing Championship 2 (DBX 2) on June 14, 2025, in Miami, Florida, facing Saidyokub Kakhramonov in a featherweight bout under modified striking rules. He lost by decision, marking his first competition in an independent promotion founded by former UFC fighter Mike Perry. On August 29, 2025, at Dirty Boxing Championship 3 (DBX 3), also in Miami, Caceres faced Shawn West and secured a technical knockout victory via strikes at 2:59 of the second round, halting a two-fight losing skid from his final UFC appearances.[7][30] These wins marked his transition to alternative combat sports formats emphasizing stand-up exchanges.[31] As of November 2025, Caceres holds a professional MMA record of 21 wins, 15 losses, and one no contest, reflecting his ongoing pursuit of bouts beyond major organizations.[32] He has voiced optimism about exploring diverse promotions to revive his career momentum, underscoring a newfound emphasis on independent ventures free from the constraints of large-scale contracts.[27]Personal Life
Relationships
Alex Caceres has maintained a low profile regarding his personal relationships, with few details emerging in public records or interviews from reputable outlets. In a 2023 social media post, he thanked his wife for support amid his professional career.[33] He has highlighted how the constant absences required by his career can contribute to relational tensions.[34]Spiritual Interests
In August 2020, Caceres publicly shared uplifting messages on social media, encouraging followers to embrace gratitude and perseverance amid personal hardships like unemployment and relocation, thereby promoting mindfulness as a tool for navigating adversity.[35] By 2025, Caceres reflected on his spiritual evolution in interviews, highlighting how Eastern disciplines such as meditation and yoga complement martial arts philosophy to foster deeper self-awareness and resilience.[36][37] These practices now form a core part of his daily routine, aiding mental health by transforming routine activities into meditative experiences that cultivate inner peace beyond physical conditioning.[37]Championships and Accomplishments
MMA Achievements
Alex Caceres competed on The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 in 2010, where he advanced past the preliminary round by submitting Paul Barrow but was eliminated in the quarterfinals by a unanimous decision loss to Michael Johnson. Despite not reaching the finals, Caceres impressed UFC officials with his performances and was awarded a contract to join the promotion's roster.[21] In the UFC, Caceres earned the Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses for his third-round rear-naked choke victory over previously undefeated Sergio Pettis at UFC on Fox 10 on January 25, 2014, marking a highlight in his early Octagon tenure.[38] This performance showcased his grappling prowess and helped establish him as a versatile competitor capable of thrilling finishes. Throughout his professional MMA career, Caceres has secured 21 victories, including 4 by knockout and 7 by submission, demonstrating his adaptability across striking and submission techniques in the featherweight division.[22] His blend of aggressive, unorthodox striking and opportunistic submissions has contributed to his reputation as a durable and entertaining fighter. Caceres has been recognized as a fan favorite due to his exciting, high-volume fighting style, which often leads to competitive bouts.[31] Following a challenging period earlier in his career, he built momentum starting in 2018 with a split decision win over Martin Bravo at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale, followed by victories against opponents like Steven Peterson in 2020, helping him rebound against solid competition in the division.[1] After departing the UFC in May 2025 following 30 Octagon appearances, Caceres has extended his professional career in regional promotions.[29]Grappling Accomplishments
Alex Caceres earned his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in October 2025, after 18 years of dedicated training, marking a significant milestone in his grappling journey.[39] This promotion, awarded by his instructors at the MMA Lab, recognized his long-term commitment to the art, though it sparked debate within the BJJ community due to the rapid progression from blue belt.[39] Caceres has competed in professional submission grappling events under the FURY Pro Grappling banner, showcasing his ground skills outside the MMA cage. In December 2021 at FURY Pro Grappling 3, he secured a notable victory over Eddy Torres via rear-naked choke at 2:35 of regulation time, demonstrating his proficiency in choke-based submissions.[40] He followed this with a draw against fellow UFC veteran Clay Guida in August 2022 at FURY Pro Grappling 5, highlighting his competitive resilience in a high-profile matchup. However, in December 2022 at FURY Pro Grappling 6, he was submitted by Pat Sabatini via rear-naked choke, providing valuable experience against elite grapplers.[41] These grappling outings have emphasized Caceres' aggressive style, often relying on armbars and chokes to control and finish opponents, elements that align with his early BJJ foundations but remain distinct from his mixed martial arts applications. His successes in these no-gi formats have informed his overall training regimen, enhancing his ground control without overlapping into cage-based scenarios.[42]Fighting Records
Mixed Martial Arts Record
Alex Caceres' professional mixed martial arts record, as of November 16, 2025, stands at 21 wins, 15 losses, and 1 no contest across 37 bouts. His victories are broken down as 4 by knockout or technical knockout, 7 by submission, and 10 by decision, while his losses consist of 1 by TKO, 7 by submission, and 7 by decision. Within the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Caceres compiled a record of 16 wins, 13 losses, and 1 no contest.[2][3][22] The following table details his complete professional MMA fight history, listed from most recent to earliest:| Res. | Record | Opponent | Event | Date | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 21–15 (1) | Shawn West | DBX 3: Rozenstruik vs. Someone | Aug 29, 2025 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Loss | 21–14 (1) | Sean Woodson | UFC on ESPN: Lewis vs. Nascimento | May 11, 2024 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Loss | 21–13 (1) | Giga Chikadze | UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs. The Korean Zombie | Aug 26, 2023 | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:26 |
| Win | 21–12 (1) | Daniel Pineda | UFC on ABC: Emmett vs. Topuria | Jun 24, 2023 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 2:24 |
| Win | 20–12 (1) | Nate Landwehr | UFC 287: Pereira vs. Adesanya 2 | Apr 8, 2023 | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Loss | 19–12 (1) | Julian Erosa | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan | Oct 1, 2022 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 4:42 |
| Loss | 19–11 (1) | Sodiq Yusuff | UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Ankalaev | Mar 12, 2022 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 19–10 (1) | Seung Woo Choi | UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori | Oct 23, 2021 | TKO (punches) | 3 | 3:26 |
| Win | 18–10 (1) | Kevin Croom | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum | Aug 21, 2021 | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:42 |
| Win | 17–10 (1) | Andre Fili | UFC 258: Błachowicz vs. Adesanya | Feb 13, 2021 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 16–10 (1) | Bill Algeo | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos | Nov 7, 2020 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 15–10 (1) | Austin Springer | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić | Aug 29, 2020 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 3:36 |
| Win | 14–10 (1) | Chase Hooper | UFC 250: Nunes vs. Spencer | Jun 6, 2020 | TKO (punches) | 1 | 2:29 |
| Loss | 13–10 (1) | Kron Gracie | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio | Nov 16, 2019 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 3 | 2:25 |
| Win | 13–9 (1) | Steven Peterson | UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Edwards | Jul 20, 2019 | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Loss | 12–9 (1) | Youssef Zalal | UFC 236: Holloway vs. Poirier 2 | Apr 13, 2019 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 12–8 (1) | Martin Bravo | The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale | Jul 6, 2018 | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Loss | 11–8 (1) | Wang Guan | UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Gastelum | Nov 25, 2017 | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 11–7 (1) | Rolando Dy | UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia | Jun 17, 2017 | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 2 | 5:00 |
| NC | 10–7 (1) | Ben Feingold | UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie | Feb 4, 2017 | No Contest (overturned) | N/A | N/A |
| Loss | 10–7 | Beneil Dariush | UFC 199: Rockhold vs. Weidman 2 | Jun 4, 2016 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 3:42 |
| Loss | 10–6 | Yair Rodríguez | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Caceres | Sep 24, 2016 | Decision (split) | 5 | 5:00 |
| Loss | 10–5 | Sérgio Pettis | UFC 197: Jones vs. Saint Preux | Apr 23, 2016 | Submission (guillotine choke) | 2 | 2:15 |
| Win | 10–4 | Ian Entwistle | UFC Fight Night: Jędrzejczyk vs. Gadelha | Mar 3, 2016 | TKO (injury) | 2 | 0:25 |
| Win | 9–4 | Masio Fullen | UFC Fight Night: Almeida vs. Lewis | Nov 21, 2015 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Loss | 8–4 | Urijah Faber | UFC 190: Rousey vs. Correia | Aug 1, 2015 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 0:47 |
| Win | 8–3 | Cole Miller | UFC 179: Aldo vs. Mendes 2 | Oct 25, 2014 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 7–3 | Byron Bloodworth | UFC Fight Night: Machida vs. Dollaway | Dec 10, 2014 | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 3:22 |
| Loss | 6–3 | Urijah Faber | UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida | Jul 5, 2014 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:09 |
| Win | 6–2 | Roland Delorme | UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Saint Preux | Nov 9, 2013 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 3:06 |
| Loss | 5–2 | Ivan Menjivar | UFC 159: Jones vs. Sonnen | Apr 27, 2013 | Submission (ninja choke) | 2 | 2:09 |
| Win | 5–1 | Edwin Figueroa | UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Belcher | Jan 19, 2013 | Decision (split) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 4–1 | Damacio Page | TUF 14 Finale | Dec 3, 2011 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 3–1 | Cub Swanson | UFC 136: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos | Oct 8, 2011 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 2 | 2:42 |
| Win | 2–1 | Steven Siler | The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 | 2010 | Submission (armbar) | 2 | 4:43 |
| Win | 1–1 | D'Juan Owens | The Ultimate Fighter Season 12 | 2010 | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 2:31 |
| Win | 1–0 | Leo Kraimer | Regional Promotion | Jun 4, 2011 | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 1:52 |
| Win | 0–0 | Koji Shibuya | Regional Promotion | Mar 4, 2011 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:20 |
| Loss | 0–1 | Deividas Taurosevicius | Regional Promotion | May 2, 2009 | Submission (triangle choke) | 1 | 2:49 |
| Loss | 0–2 | Diego Nunes | Regional Promotion | Nov 7, 2009 | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 3:20 |
| Win | 0–3 | Fabricio Guerreiro | Regional Promotion | Jul 11, 2009 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:46 |
| Win | 0–4 | Cornelius Godfrey | Regional Promotion | Oct 9, 2010 | TKO (punches) | 1 | 1:17 |
| Win | 0–5 | Anthony Figueroa | Regional Promotion | Jun 5, 2010 | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 1:45 |
| Win | 0–6 | David Gardner | Regional Promotion | Feb 20, 2010 | Decision (unanimous) | 3 | 5:00 |
| Win | 0–7 | Robert Doornbos | Regional Promotion | Sep 20, 2008 | Submission (armbar) | 1 | 0:42 |
Submission Grappling Record
Alex Caceres has a professional submission grappling record of 1 win, 2 losses, and 1 draw, all contested in high-profile superfight formats without strikes, emphasizing technique and positional control in no-gi rulesets.[3] Following his promotion to black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Caceres has focused on these bouts during breaks from MMA, showcasing his ground game against fellow UFC veterans and grapplers. His matches highlight a competitive style blending offensive submissions with defensive resilience, though he has faced challenges against specialists in prolonged scrambles.| Result | Record | Opponent | Event | Date | Location | Method/Decision | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1-0-0 | Eddy Torres | Fury Pro Grappling 3 | December 30, 2021 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | N/A |
| Draw | 1-0-1 | Clay Guida | Fury Pro Grappling 5 | August 27, 2022 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | Draw (judges' decision) | 1 | 10:00 |
| Loss | 1-1-1 | Pat Sabatini | Fury Pro Grappling 6 | December 30, 2022 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA | Submission (rear-naked choke) | 1 | 5:44 |
| Loss | 1-2-1 | Nathaniel Wood | Polaris 27 | March 23, 2024 | Newport, Wales | Decision (judges) | 1 | 10:00 |