Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico

Ultimate Warrior Challenge México
Company typePrivate
IndustryMixed martial arts promotion
Founded2009 (2009)
FounderAlejandro Islas
Headquarters
Tijuana, Baja California
,
Mexico
Websiteuwc.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]

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

Division Upper weight limit Champion Since Title Defenses
Heavyweight 120 kg (264.6 lb) Mexico Jesús Navarrete July 3, 2020 (UWC 22) 1
Middleweight 84 kg (185.2 lb) Mexico Nayib López July 28, 2024 (UWC 54) 0
Welterweight 77 kg (169.8 lb) Argentina Adrián Oviedo February 25, 2024 (UWC 51) 0
Lightweight 70 kg (154.3 lb) Brazil Adriano Nunes July 28, 2023 (UWC 46) 0
Featherweight 66 kg (145.5 lb) United States Dorian Ramos October 28, 2022 (UWC 39) 3
Bantamweight 61 kg (134.5 lb) Ecuador Adrián Luna Martinetti February 25, 2024 (UWC 51) 1
Flyweight 57 kg (125.7 lb) Argentina Braián González February 24, 2023 (UWC 41) 4
Women's Strawweight 52 kg (114.6 lb) Vacant / -

UWC Mexico title history

Men's Heavyweight Championship

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total) 		Defenses
1 Mexico 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. Name Event Date Reign
(total) 		Defenses
1 United States Gary Padilla
def. David Mariscal 		UWC Mexico 9
Tijuana, Mexico 		Mar 25, 2011 ?
Padilla vacated the title.
2 Argentina Antonio Gordillo
def. Ricardo Chávez Villaseñor 		UWC Mexico 45
Tijuana, Mexico 		Jul 2, 2023 392

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

3 Mexico Nayib López UWC Mexico 34
Tijuana, Mexico 		Jul 28, 2024

Men's Welterweight Championship

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total) 		Defenses
1 Mexico 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 Mexico Jesús Sánchez
def. Christopher Ortega 		UWC Mexico 11
Tijuana, Mexico 		Oct 1, 2011 1113

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

3 Mexico Iván Castillo UWC & 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 Mexico Iván Castillo (2)
def. Leonardo Blasco 		UWC Mexico 26
Tijuana, Mexico 		Apr 30, 2021 ?
Castillo vacated the title.
5 Argentina Adrián Oviedo
def. Carlos Camargo 		UWC Mexico 51
Tijuana, Mexico 		Feb 25, 2024

Men's Lightweight Championship

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total) 		Defenses
1 Mexico 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 Mexico Akbarh Arreola
def. Gammaliel Escarrega 		UWC Mexico 20
Tijuana, Mexico 		Aug 24, 2019 ?
Arreola vacated the title.
3 Mexico Edgar Escarrega
def. Fabian Quintanar 		UWC Mexico 21
Tijuana, Mexico 		Feb 29, 2020 ?
Escarrega vacated the title.
4 Mexico 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 Mexico 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 Brazil Adriano Nunes
def. Marco Antonio Elpidio 		UWC Mexico 46
Tijuana, Mexico 		Jul 28, 2023

Men's Featherweight Championship

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total) 		Defenses
1 Mexico 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 Mexico 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 Mexico Luis Meraz
def. Miguel Enrique Torres 		UWC Mexico 21
Tijuana, Mexico 		Feb 29, 2020 1000
4 United States Dorian Ramos UWC 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. Name Event Date Reign
(total) 		Defenses
1 Mexico 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 United States Walel Watson
def. Ismael León 		UWC Mexico 10
Tijuana, Mexico 		Jun 25, 2011 ?
Watson vacated the title.
3 Mexico Antonio Barajas
def. Brady Harrison 		UWC Mexico 13
Tijuana, Mexico 		Mar 2, 2013 ?
Barajas vacated the title.
4 Mexico 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 Mexico Antonio Duarte (2)
def. Erik Radleim 		UWC Mexico 20
Tijuana, Mexico 		Aug 29, 2019 ?
Duarte vacated the title.
6 Mexico Christian Quiñónez
def. Donny Matos 		UWC Mexico 25
Tijuana, Mexico 		Feb 26, 2021 ?
Quiñónez vacated the title.
7 Ecuador 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 Mexico Mahatma García
def. Juan Pablo González 		UWC Mexico 50
Tijuana, Mexico 		Nov 24, 2023 93
9 Ecuador Adrián Luna Martinetti (2) UWC Mexico 51
Tijuana, Mexico 		Feb 25, 2024

Men's Flyweight Championship

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total) 		Defenses
1 Mexico Iván López
def. Kevin Amador 		UWC & EVT: Duarte vs. Beristaín
Tijuana, Mexico 		May 17, 2014 1930
2 France Antoine Hidrio UWC Mexico 20
Tijuana, Mexico 		Aug 29, 2019 184
3 Mexico Jesús Santos Aguilar UWC Mexico 21
Tijuana, Mexico 		Feb 29, 2020 607

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

Aguilar vacated the title.
4 Brazil Sóslenis Carvalho
def. Paulino Siller 		UWC Mexico 29
Tijuana, Mexico 		Oct 1, 2021 238
5 Brazil João Camilo UWC Mexico 34
Tijuana, Mexico 		May 27, 2022 273
6 Brazil Braián González UWC Mexico 41
Tijuana, Mexico 		Feb 24, 2023

Women's Strawweight Championship

No. Name Event Date Reign
(total) 		Defenses
1 Mexico Yazmin Jauregui
def. Annely Jiménez García 		UWC Mexico 24
Tijuana, Mexico 		Nov 13, 2020 272
Jauregui vacated the title.

List of events

# Event Date Venue Location
58 UWC México 57: Villegas vs. Zapien June 29, 2025 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
57 UWC México 56: Leyva vs. Chavez April 6, 2025 Auditorio Municipal de Tijuana Tijuana, Mexico
56 UWC México 55: Lavado vs. Muñoz February 23, 2025 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
55 UWC México 54: Gordillo vs. López July 28, 2024 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
54 UWC México 53: Elías vs. Meza May 19, 2024 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
53 UWC México 52: Ramos vs. Sedano April 7, 2024 Zonkeys Arena Tijuana, Mexico
52 UWC México 51: García vs. Luna February 25, 2024 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
51 UWC México 50: González vs. García November 24, 2023 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
50 UWC México 49: Oviedo vs. Zadruzynski October 27, 2023 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
49 UWC México 48: Gordillo vs. De Paula September 29, 2023 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
48 UWC México 47: El Hazoume vs. Ramos August 25, 2023 Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
47 UWC México 46: Elpidio vs. Nunes July 28, 2023 Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
46 UWC México 45: Chávez vs. Gordillo 2 July 2, 2023 Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
45 UWC México 44: Prototipo vs. El Rey May 26, 2023 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
44 UWC México 43: Ramos vs. Peñaloza April 28, 2023 Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
43 UWC México 42: Luna vs. Matos March 31, 2023 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
42 UWC México 41: Mascarado vs. Prototipo February 24, 2023 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
41 UWC México 40: Sabori vs. Sánchez November 25, 2022 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
40 UWC México 39: Meráz vs. Ramos October 28, 2022 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
39 UWC México 38: Neto vs. Barez September 30, 2022 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
38 UWC México 37: Sánchez vs. Granados August 26, 2022 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
37 UWC México 36: Díaz vs. García July 29, 2022 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
36 UWC México 35: Luna vs. Campos June 24, 2022 El Foro Tijuana, Mexico
35 UWC México 34: Carvalho vs. Camilo May 27, 2022 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
34 UWC México 33: Sabori vs. Rodríguez April 29, 2022 El Foro Tijuana, Mexico
33 UWC México 32: Sánchez vs. Valencia March 25, 2022 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
32 UWC México 31: Luna vs. Uruchurtu February 25, 2022 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
31 UWC México 30: Leyva vs. Galera November 26, 2021 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
30 UWC México 29: Meráz vs. Rivero October 1, 2021 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
29 UWC México 28: Luna vs. Benitez August 13, 2021 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
28 UWC México 27: Torres vs. Canada June 11, 2021 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
27 UWC México 26: Verdugo vs. Barahona April 30, 2021 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
26 UWC México 25: Quinóñez vs. Matos February 26, 2021 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
25 UWC México 24: Friday The 13th November 13, 2020 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
24 UWC México 23: Supremacy September 4, 2020 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
23 UWC México 22: Total War July 3, 2020 Entram Gym Tijuana, Mexico
22 UWC México 21: Bloody Valentine Part Deux February 29, 2020 Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
21 UWC México: New Blood 3 October 23, 2019 Colegio de Ingenieros Civiles (CICTAC) Tijuana, Mexico
20 UWC México 20: Legacy August 24, 2019 Auditorio Municipal Tijuana, Mexico
19 UWC México 14: Bravo vs. Suruy June 27, 2015 ONIXEUS Tijuana, Mexico
18 UWC & EVT: Sánchez vs. Castillo October 18, 2014 ONIXEUS Tijuana, Mexico
17 UWC & EVT: Duarte vs. Beristaín May 17, 2014 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
16 UWC México: New Blood 2 April 28, 2013 ONIXEUS Tijuana, Mexico
15 UWC México: Benítez vs. Oropeza March 2, 2013 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
14 UWC México 12: Never Tap March 24, 2012 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
13 UWC México: New Blood 1 January 29, 2012 Score Sports Bar Tijuana, Mexico
12 UWC México 11: Born Again October 1, 2011 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
11 UWC México 10: To the Edge June 25, 2011 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
10 UWC México 9.5: Iguana April 30, 2011 Restaurante Iguana Rana Tijuana, Mexico
9 UWC México 9: They're Back March 25, 2011 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
8 UWC México 8: Mexican Championships October 16, 2010 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
7 UWC México 7: Evolution June 26, 2010 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
6 UWC México 6: Hecho en México April 24, 2010 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
5 UWC México 5: Bloody Valentine February 13, 2010 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
4 UWC México 4: Renacimiento November 28, 2009 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
3 UWC México 3: Tijuana vs. Brazil July 18, 2009 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
2 UWC México 2: Furia Cachanilla May 30, 2009 Auditorio Fausto Gutiérrez Moreno Tijuana, Mexico
1 UWC México 1: Baja California vs. California February 28, 2009 Auditorio 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.
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