Yaotzin Meza (born February 4, 1981) is an American former mixed martial artist who is best known for competing in the bantamweight and featherweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[2]

Yaotzin Meza
Born (1981-02-04) February 4, 1981 (age 43)
Santa Ana, California, United States
NationalityAmerican
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionBantamweight
Featherweight
Reach71 in (180 cm)[1]
Fighting out ofGlendale, Arizona, United States
TeamMMA Lab
Years active2006-2018
Mixed martial arts record
Total34
Wins22
By knockout5
By submission8
By decision9
Losses11
By knockout3
By submission3
By decision5
No contests1
Other information
Website[1]
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background edit

Meza went to Flagstaff High School where he participated in wrestling, achieving 3rd place at the Arizona state wrestling championships his senior year.[3]

MMA career edit

Meza turned pro on April 29, 2006, losing by submission to Kyle Brees at RITC 81. Meza lost his next two bouts both to Amos Sotelo. Meza then won his next 8 fights before losing to Stephane Vigneault at TKO 34.

Ultimate Fighting Championship edit

Meza made his promotional debut at UFC on FX 6 filling in for the injured Hacran Dias against Chad Mendes.[4] he lost via KO in the first round.[5]

Meza made his second UFC appearance at bantamweight against TUF alum John Albert at UFC on Fox 8.[6] After surviving a dangerous armbar early in the fight, Meza was able to submit Albert in the second round with a rear-naked choke.[7]

Meza faced Chico Camus on January 25, 2014, at UFC on Fox 10.[8] Originally, he lost the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28) but the result was overturned after Camus failed a post fight drug test.[2][9][10]

Meza faced Sergio Pettis on June 7, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 42.[11] He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[12]

Meza faced promotional newcomer Damian Stasiak in a featherweight bout on April 11, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 64.[13] Meza won the back and forth fight by unanimous decision.[14]

Meza faced Sam Sicilia on July 15, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 71, replacing Doo Ho Choi.[15] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[16]

Meza faced Arnold Allen on February 27, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 84.[17] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[18]

Post-UFC career and retirement edit

Over two years after getting cut from the UFC, Meza faced Gilberto Aguilar at Combate Americas 24 on September 15, 2018. Meza won the fight via rear-naked choke in the first round and retired from the sport.[19]

Mixed martial arts record edit

Professional record breakdown
33 matches 21 wins 11 losses
By knockout 5 3
By submission 7 3
By decision 9 5
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 22–11 (1) Gilberto Aguilar Submission (rear-naked choke) Combate Americas 24 September 15, 2018 1 3:58 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Loss 21–11 (1) Arnold Allen Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Silva vs. Bisping February 27, 2016 3 5:00 London, England
Loss 21–10 (1) Sam Sicilia Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Mir vs. Duffee July 15, 2015 3 5:00 San Diego, California, United States
Win 21–9 (1) Damian Stasiak Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop 2 April 11, 2015 3 5:00 Kraków, Poland Return to Featherweight.
Loss 20–9 (1) Sergio Pettis Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Khabilov June 7, 2014 3 5:00 Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
NC 20–8 (1) Chico Camus NC (overturned) UFC on Fox: Henderson vs. Thomson January 25, 2014 3 5:00 Chicago, Illinois, United States Originally a decision win for Camus; overturned as he tested positive for marijuana.
Win 20–8 John Albert Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC on Fox: Johnson vs. Moraga July 27, 2013 2 2:49 Seattle, Washington, United States Bantamweight debut.
Loss 19–8 Chad Mendes KO (punches) UFC on FX: Sotiropoulos vs. Pearson December 15, 2012 1 1:55 Gold Coast, Australia
Win 19–7 Kevin Croom Decision (unanimous) RITC - Rage in the Cage 163 October 20, 2012 3 5:00 Chandler, Arizona, United States
Loss 18–7 Andres Quintana TKO (punches) WMMA - Region 4 - Round 1 April 14, 2012 1 2:43 Prescott Valley, Arizona, United States
Win 18–6 Ran Weathers Decision (unanimous) MBP - Sun City Battle 2 October 1, 2011 3 5:00 El Paso, Texas, United States
Win 17–6 Eric Regan Submission (guillotine choke) RITC - Rage in the Cage 154 September 9, 2011 2 0:58 Chandler, Arizona, United States
Win 16–6 Scott Pike TKO (punches) RITC - Rage in the Cage 151 April 16, 2011 1 1:39 Chandler, Arizona, United States
Win 15–6 Nick Piedmont Decision (unanimous) DRFCF 8 November 19, 2010 3 5:00 Yuma, Arizona, United States
Win 14–6 Brandon Shelton Submission (guillotine choke) C3 Fights - Slammin Jammin Weekend 6 October 22, 2010 1 1:42 Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States
Win 13–6 Casey Milliken Decision (unanimous) RITC 143 - Rage in the Cage 143 July 31, 2010 3 5:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Loss 12–6 Rich Taylor Decision (unanimous) EB - Beatdown at 4 Bears 5 October 24, 2009 3 5:00 New Town, North Dakota, United States
Loss 12–5 Jamie Schmidt Submission (armbar) AG - Extreme Beat Down April 11, 2009 1 1:59 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 12–4 Travis Reddinger Submission (rear-naked choke) EB - Beatdown at 4 Bears 4 March 21, 2009 1 1:40 New Town, North Dakota, United States
Win 11–4 Alonzo Martinez Submission (guillotine choke) EVO MMA - Evolution MMA October 4, 2008 2 2:08 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 10–4 Antonio Lepe TKO (punches) MFC - Mexican Fighting Championship September 20, 2008 1 2:30 Puerto Penasco, Mexico
Win 9–4 Gabriel Benítez Decision (unanimous) NDG - Noche de Gladiadores August 15, 2008 3 3:00 Hermosillo, Mexico
Loss 8–4 Stephane Vigneault TKO (punches) TKO 34 - Sims vs. Bosse June 7, 2008 2 3:28 Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win 8–3 Randy Steinke Submission (rear-naked choke) FMF - Full Moon Fighting February 23, 2008 3 1:27 Sonora, Mexico
Win 7–3 Hans Burnett TKO (punches) RITC 102 - Hodges vs. Schumacher October 13, 2007 1 2:56 Tucson, Arizona, United States
Win 6–3 Donny Walker TKO (punches) EC: Fights September 29, 2007 2 N/A Monterrey, Mexico
Win 5–3 Austin Pascucci Decision (unanimous) RITC 98 - Rage in the Cage 98 July 21, 2007 3 3:00 Fountain Hills, Arizona, United States
Win 4–3 Pete Vandervort TKO (punches) WFC - Rumble In The Red Rocks June 9, 2007 1 2:25 Camp Verde, Arizona, United States
Win 3–3 Patrick Lopez Decision (split) RITC 91 - Rage in the Cage 91 February 24, 2007 3 3:00 Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 2–3 Richie Reyes Submission (punches) RITC 88 - Veteran's Day Rumble November 11, 2006 2 1:29 Tucson, Arizona, United States
Win 1–3 Robert Maldonado Decision (unanimous) RITC 86 - Rage in the Cage August 15, 2006 3 3:00 Tucson, Arizona, United States
Loss 0–3 Amos Sotelo Submission (guillotine choke) RITC 84 - Celebrity Theatre July 1, 2006 2 1:55 Fort McDowell, Arizona, United States
Loss 0–2 Amos Sotelo Decision (unanimous) RITC 82 - More Rage May 26, 2006 3 3:00 Tucson, Arizona, United States
Loss 0–1 Kyle Brees Submission (triangle choke) RITC 81 - Rage in the Cage 81 April 29, 2006 1 2:01 Upland, California, United States

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Fight Card - UFC Fight Night Mir vs. Duffee". UFC.com. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Yaotzin Meza - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  3. ^ "Yaotzin Meza Flagstaff High Alum". Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  4. ^ "Yaotzin Meza replaces Hacran Dias, meets Chad Mendes at Friday's UFC on FX 6". 10 December 2012.
  5. ^ "UFC on FX 6 results: Chad Mendes blasts late replacement Yaotzin Meza in first". 15 December 2012.
  6. ^ "Yaotzin Meza vs. John Albert Announced for UFC on Fox 8 Fight Card".
  7. ^ "UFC on FOX 8 results/photos: Yaotzin Meza wins submission battle vs. John Albert". 27 July 2013.
  8. ^ Matt Erickson (November 22, 2013). "Chico Camus vs. Yaotzin Meza bantamweight bout added to UFC on FOX 10 in Chicago". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  9. ^ John Morgan (January 25, 2014). "UFC on FOX 10 results, photos: Chico Camus outgrapples Yaotzin Meza for decision win". MMAjunkie.com.
  10. ^ "Chico Camus vs. Yaotzin Meza - FightMetric LLC :.: The World's First Comprehensive MMA Statistics Provider". fightmetric.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  11. ^ Dana Becker (March 26, 2014). "UFC Fight Night New Mexico Scores Meza-Pettis". fightline.com. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  12. ^ Steven Marrocco (2014-06-07). "UFC Fight Night 42 results: Sergio Pettis edges Yaotzin Meza". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2014-06-07.
  13. ^ Staff (2015-04-01). "Yaotzin Meza vs. Damian Stasiak joins next week's UFC Fight Night 64 lineup". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-04-01.
  14. ^ Ben Fowlkes (2015-04-11). "UFC Fight Night 64 results: Yaotzin Meza outworks Damian Stasiak for decision win". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
  15. ^ Staff (2015-07-01). "Yaotzin Meza steps in as late replacement at UFC Fight Night 71 in San Diego". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-07-01.
  16. ^ Dann Stupp (2015-07-15). "UFC Fight Night 71 results: Yaotzin Meza no match for Sam Sicilia". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2015-07-15.
  17. ^ Staff (2015-12-15). "Arnold Allen set to face Yaotzin Meza at UFC Fight Night London Feb. 27". mmacrazytv.com. Retrieved 2015-12-15.
  18. ^ Ben Fowlkes (2016-02-27). "UFC Fight Night 84 results: Arnold Allen shuts out Yaotzin Meza on scorecards". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  19. ^ Alexander K. Lee (September 17, 2018). "Missed Fists: Yaotzin Meza calls it a career, a heated main event in Slovakia, more". mmafighting.com.

External links edit