Frank Camacho

Franklin Beldad Camacho (born May 18, 1989) is a Chamorro mixed martial artist in the lightweight division. He was a 2010 Blue Belt Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World champion and a 2006 Micronesian Games wrestling gold medalist. He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

Background
Camacho was born in Guam to Marcia and Francisco Muña Camacho. He was raised in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, where he is still based. He started playing golf at a young age in hopes of competing professionally one day. However, he moved his attention to mixed martial arts (MMA), to shed some weight and get in shape, after watching UFC and Pride Fighting Championships events on television. He start training in MMA when he was fifteen years old, under the supervision of Tetsuji Kato and Cuki Alvarez of Trench Tech Purebred in Saipan. He competed in his first professional fight one year later.

Early career
Camacho competed mainly within and around the Pacific Rim, particularly Saipan and Guam, under promotions, such as Pacific Xtreme Combat, Rites of Passage, and Trench Warz. He maintained a 20–4 record prior to entering in the Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC).

The Ultimate Fighter 16
Camacho was a participant in The Ultimate Fighter: Team Carwin vs. Team Nelson in 2012, which was the sixteenth main installment of UFC-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). In his entry-round match against Neil Magny, he lost via unanimous decision and was eliminated from the competition.

Ultimate Fighting Championship
Four years after his appearance in TUF 16, Camacho received an opportunity to compete in the Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC), replacing an injured Jonathan Meunier. He made his debut in the match against Li Jingliang during UFC Fight Night: Holm vs. Correia on June 17, 2017. Camacho lost the fight via unanimous decision, and earned his first UFC Fight of the Night bonus award.

Camacho faced Damien Brown in a lightweight bout during UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura on November 19, 2017. Camacho weighed in at 160 pounds during weigh-ins, making him four pounds over the lightweight upper limit of 156 pounds. The bout proceeded as a catchweight and he forfeited 30% of his purse to Brown. He won the fight via split decision. This win earned him his second Fight of the Night bonus award. Camacho took to Twitter after the match, asking UFC President Dana White to give his US$50,000 bonus prize to Brown. Camacho believed he was not eligible for the prize because he did not meet the weight requirement for the division. Camacho became one of five fighters in UFC history to earn back-to-back Fight of the Night awards to start off their UFC career.

Camacho faced Drew Dober during UFC on Fox: Jacaré vs. Brunson 2 on January 27, 2018. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. This fight earned him his third Fight of the Night bonus award in as many fights, making him one of two fighters to start their UFC careers with three consecutive Fight of the Night bonus awards.

Camacho faced Geoff Neal during UFC 228: Woodley vs. Till on September 8, 2018. He lost the fight via knockout.

Camacho faced Nick Hein in a lightweight bout during UFC Fight Night: Gustafsson vs. Smith on June 1, 2019. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Camacho faced Beneil Dariush during UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren on October 26, 2019. He lost the fight via submission in round one.

Camacho was billed as a short-notice replacement to face Alan Patrick on April 25, 2020. However, on April 9, Dana White announced that this event was postponed to a future date. Camacho was then scheduled to face Matt Frevola during UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. Volkov on June 20, 2020. However, it was revealed on June 18 that Frevola was removed from the bout after one of his cornermen tested positive for COVID-19. Instead, Camacho faced promotional newcomer Justin Jaynes at the event. At the weigh-ins on June 19, Camacho missed weight, coming in at 158 pounds, two pounds over the non-title lightweight limit of 156 pounds. The bout proceeded as a catchweight and Camacho was fined 20% of his purse. Camacho was defeated via first-round technical knockout.

Camacho was scheduled to face Brok Weaver during UFC Fight Night 177 on September 12, 2020. However Camacho was removed from the bout during the week leading up to the fight after testing positive for COVID-19. Weaver instead faced Jalin Turner.

Camacho was scheduled to face Matt Frevola on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263. However, Camacho pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event after he was involved in a traffic accident in Orange County, California, that left him with non-life-threatening injuries to his back and neck. In turn, Frevola faced promotional newcomer Terrance McKinney instead.

Camacho faced Manuel Torres on May 14, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 36. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.

On June 8, 2022, it was confirmed that Camacho was no longer on the UFC roster.

Personal life
Camacho gained his moniker “The Crank” after a fight announcer introduced him by rhyming “crank” with his first name, Frank. Since then, he has opted to keep the name.

Camacho is married to Sarah Filush Camacho. They have a son named Franklin Muña Camacho Jr, another son and a girl Catalina (born 2021).

Mixed martial arts

 * First International MMA Champion Saipan

Ultimate Fighting Championship
 * Fight of the Night (three times) vs Li Jingliang, Damien Brown and Drew Dober
 * Tied (w/Yoshihiro Akiyama and Justin Gaethje for Most Consecutive Fight of the Night Awards to Begin UFC Career

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

 * 2010 BJJ World Champion
 * 2013 European Jiu-Jitsu Championships Silver Medalist
 * 2013 Marianas Open Absolute Champion
 * New York Jiu-Jitsu Championships Bronze Medalist
 * 2014 Marianas Open Brown Belt Open Absolute Winner
 * Abu Dhabi Pro Trials Bronze Medallist
 * European Jiu-Jitsu championship Silver Medallist
 * Pan American BJJ Championship Medallist
 * Asia Open BJJ Championship Gold Medallist
 * Micronesian Games Wrestling Gold Medallist