Jesse Juarez

Jesse Juarez (born May 8, 1981) is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division of the Absolute Championship Berkut. A professional competitor since 2006, Juarez has also formerly competed for Strikeforce, Bellator MMA, the MFC, and Shark Fights. He holds a win at Welterweight over former UFC Middleweight champion Robert Whittaker.

Background
Originally from Torrance, California, Juarez is of French, Italian, and Tongan descent. Juarez attended North Torrance High School where he competed in wrestling, football, and track and field, earning High School All-American honors for wrestling after being the California state runner-up. Juarez later continued his wrestling career at Golden West College where he was a JUCO All-American and California JC state champion before transferring to Montana State University-Northern. Juarez was a two-time NAIA All-American and was a 2005 NAIA National Champion at Montana State University-Northern. Juarez had been introduced to mixed martial arts while wrestling in high school and later transitioned into mixed martial arts after college.

Early career
Juarez started his professional career in 2006. He fought mainly for California-based promotions as Strikeforce, Gladiator Challenge and Invincible.

He faced Luke Stewart on September 20, 2008, at Strikeforce: At The Mansion II. He lost via submission due to an armbar in the first round.

Bellator MMA
Juarez made his promotional debut against Mikey Gomez on April 10, 2009, at Bellator 2. He won via TKO in the first round.

Juarez next faced Deray Davis on May 15, 2009, at Bellator 7–8. Once again he won via TKO in round one.

Juarez did a rematch against Mikey Gomez on June 5, 2009, at Bellator 10. He won via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, 30–27).

Maximum Fighting Championship and Cage Fighting Championship
Juarez made his promotional debut in MFC against Joe Christopher on December 4, 2009, at MFC 23. He won via unanimous decision.

Juarez faced Nathan Gunn on February 26, 2010, at MFC 24. He won via knockout with a head kick at 11 seconds of round one.

Juarez made his promotional debut in Cage Fighting Championship against Justin Murray on April 16, 2010, at CFC 13 for the welterweight title. Juarez defeated Murray via majority decision (49–47, 48–48, 48–47) after five rounds and became the CFC welterweight title holder.

Juarez faced Douglas Lima on November 12, 2010, at MFC 27 for the MFC Welterweight Championship. He lost via submission due to a triangle armbar in the third round.

Juarez defended his CFC Welterweight Championship against Manuel Rodriguez on August 26, 2011, at CFC 18. He defeated Rodriguez via unanimous decision (50–45, 50–45, 49–47) after five rounds to retain his belt.

Juarez defended the CFC Championship against Robert Whittaker on May 18, 2012, at CFC 21. He defeated Whittaker via unanimous decision (49–46, 48–47, 48–47) after five rounds to retain the title.

Return to Bellator MMA
In 2013, Juarez returned to Bellator MMA. He faced Jordan Smith on February 21, 2013, at Bellator 90. He won via split decision (30–27, 29–28, 28–29) after a hard-fought match.

Juarez faced Joe Williams on November 2, 2013, at Bellator 106. He won via submission due to a guillotine choke in the very first round.

Juarez was scheduled to face Andrey Koreshkov in the quarterfinal match of Bellator season ten welterweight tournament on March 14, 2014, at Bellator 112. However, after the removal of other tournament competitors citing injuries, the tournament line-up was shifted and Juarez instead faced Adam McDonough. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Juarez faced Ron Keslar on September 19, 2014, at Bellator 125. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Juarez was expected to face Brennan Ward at Bellator 134 on February 27, 2015. However, Ward was moved up to the main card to face Curtis Millender after Millender's opponent, Michael Page, pulled out of the fight due to a cut over his left eye. Juarez was removed from the fight card as a result.

Juarez faced Ricky Rainey at Bellator 137 on May 15, 2015. He lost the fight via knockout in the second round.

In June 2015, it was revealed that Juarez and 7 other fighters were released from the promotion.

Absolute Championship Berkut
Juarez faced Beslan Isaev on May 6, 2016, at ACB 35. He lost the fight via submission in the first round.

Amateur wrestling

 * National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
 * NAIA All-American out of Montana State University–Northern (2004, 2005)
 * NAIA National Championship 184 lb: Champion out of Montana State University–Northern (2005)
 * NAIA National Championship 174 lb: 5th place out of Montana State University–Northern (2004)
 * NAIA North Region Championship 174 lb: Champion out of Montana State University–Northern (2004)
 * California Community College Athletic Association
 * CCCAA State Championship 184 lb: Champion out of Golden West College (2001)
 * National High School Coaches Association
 * NHSCA All-American out of North Torrance High School (2000)
 * NHSCA Senior Nationals 171 lb: 7th place out of North Torrance High School (2000)

Mixed martial arts

 * Cage Fighting Championship
 * CFC Welterweight Championship (One time)
 * Two successful title defenses
 * Invincible
 * Invincible Middleweight Championship (One time)
 * Invincible Welterweight Championship (One time)