John Moraga


John Anthony Moraga is an American professional boxer and mixed martial artist who competes as a flyweight and featherweight in MMA and boxing, respectively. He is best known for his lengthy career Ultimate Fighting Championship which saw him challenge for the UFC Flyweight Championship in 2013.

Background

Moraga was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He attended Maryvale High School and then chose to go to Arizona State University where he was a two-time University Freestyle All-American wrestler for the Sun Devils.

Mixed martial arts career

Moraga started his professional career at 2009 in Arizona for the local organization Rage in the Cage. There he achieved an undefeated record of 6–0, until his fight against John Dodson at 2010, in which he lost by unanimous decision. After this setback he won five straight bouts to make his way into the UFC. He is of Mexican heritage.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Moraga was expected his promotional debut against Ian McCall on August 4, 2012 at UFC on Fox 4. However, McCall was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Ulysses Gomez. Moraga won the fight via KO in the first round.
Moraga next faced Chris Cariaso on December 29, 2012 at UFC 155. Moraga was victorious with a third round guillotine choke submission. His victory also earned him Submission of the Night honors.
Moraga was expected to face UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson on April 13, 2013 at. However, Johnson was forced out of the bout with an injury and Moraga was removed from the event as well.
Moraga eventually faced UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson at UFC on Fox 8 on July 27, 2013. Moraga showed promise in the first round as he landed some good strikes standing. However, the champion began to wear him down with his wrestling. Despite hurting Johnson in the fourth round with a punch, he lost the fight via submission in the fifth round.
Moraga was expected to face Darren Uyenoyama on December 14, 2013 at UFC on Fox 9. However, Moraga pulled out of the bout with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by promotional newcomer Alptekin Ozkilic.
Moraga faced Dustin Ortiz on January 15, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 35. He won the fight via split decision.
A rematch with John Dodson took place on June 7, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 42. He lost the fight via TKO due to a doctor stoppage between rounds two and three after a knee Dodson threw late in the second round broke Moraga's nose.
Moraga faced Justin Scoggins on September 5, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 50. Moraga defeated Scoggins via submission in the second round, securing a guillotine choke after being taken down.
Moraga was expected to face Jussier Formiga on December 13, 2014 at UFC on Fox 13. However, Formiga pulled out of the fight on November 21 and was replaced by Willie Gates. Moraga won the fight via submission in the third round.
Moraga faced Joseph Benavidez on May 23, 2015 at UFC 187. Moraga lost the back and forth fight via unanimous decision.
Moraga faced Matheus Nicolau on July 8, 2016 at He lost the fight via split decision.
Moraga was expected to face Zach Makovsky on December 10, 2016 at UFC 206. However, Moraga pulled out of the fight in early November citing injury and was replaced by Dustin Ortiz.
Moraga next faced Sergio Pettis on January 15, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 103. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Moraga faced promotional newcomer Ashkan Mokhtarian on June 11, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 110. He won the one-sided fight by unanimous decision.
Moraga faced Magomed Bibulatov on October 7, 2017 at UFC 216. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Moraga faced Wilson Reis on April 14, 2018 at UFC on Fox 29. He won the fight via unanimous decision.
Moraga faced Deiveson Figueiredo on August 25, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 135. He lost the fight via TKO in the second round.
On February 7, 2019, it was reported that Moraga was released from UFC.

Post-UFC career

Moraga is expected to face Hector Sandoval at ARES 2 on April 3, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was postponed until October 30, 2020.

Professional boxing career

Just before joining ranks of the UFC, Moraga made his professional boxing debut against Jose Marrufo, losing the bout via unanimous decision.
After he was released from the UFC in 2019, he continued with his boxing career by defeating Brandon Foss via technical knockout in the second round.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes-
2Win1–1 Brandon Foss412 October 2019 Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino, Chandler, Arizona, US
1Loss0–1 Jose Marrufo412 April 2012 El Zaribah Shriners Auditorium, Phoenix, Arizona, US-