Rafa Garcia
Gifted
Mexico
Easily handles Alexander Hernandez
Garcia defeated Alexander Hernandez via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It was a dominant performance from Garcia despite entering as a very slight +105 underdog. He simply did whatever he wanted the entire fight, walking Hernandez down and picking him apart on the feet. Rafa added four takedowns for good measure, and although he tired in Round 3, the result was already in the bag by then. The 31-year-old has quietly one of the more unappreciated members of the lightweight division in recent years, winning three straight and five of six dating back to December 2022. Garcia is in line for a bigger fight his next time out.
It was a dominant performance from Garcia despite entering as a very slight +105 underdog. He simply did whatever he wanted the entire fight, walking Hernandez down and picking him apart on the feet. Rafa added four takedowns for good measure, and although he tired in Round 3, the result was already in the bag by then. The 31-year-old has quietly one of the more unappreciated members of the lightweight division in recent years, winning three straight and five of six dating back to December 2022. Garcia is in line for a bigger fight his next time out.
Fight Log
Loading Fight Log...
More Fantasy News
Next fight on tap
Garcia is scheduled to fight fellow lightweight Alexander Hernandez at UFC Vegas 116 on April 25, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
After a bounce-back 2025, featuring wins over Vinc Pichel and Jared Gordon, Garcia will look to continue his winning ways in 2026. Garcia's opponent also logged a stellar year, so it will be a battle of momentum, where one's is expected to finally come to a halt come April.
After a bounce-back 2025, featuring wins over Vinc Pichel and Jared Gordon, Garcia will look to continue his winning ways in 2026. Garcia's opponent also logged a stellar year, so it will be a battle of momentum, where one's is expected to finally come to a halt come April.
Pulls upset of Jared Gordon
Garcia defeated Jared Gordon via TKO (elbows) at 2:27 of Round 2 at UFC Noche on Saturday in San Antonio.
ANALYSIS
Garcia continues the best run of his UFC career at age 31. Entering as a +150 underdog against an opponent known for his output and pace, Rafa simply outworked Gordon. He closed with a 91-65 edge in significant strikes landed. He also connected on 2-of-3 takedown attempts and was responsible for the biggest moment of the fight when a Round 3 knockdown led to the finish. Garcia is 4-1 in his past five fights dating back to December 2022, with the lone defeat during that stretch coming against a legitimate contender in Grant Dawson. Things are looking up for Rafa.
Garcia continues the best run of his UFC career at age 31. Entering as a +150 underdog against an opponent known for his output and pace, Rafa simply outworked Gordon. He closed with a 91-65 edge in significant strikes landed. He also connected on 2-of-3 takedown attempts and was responsible for the biggest moment of the fight when a Round 3 knockdown led to the finish. Garcia is 4-1 in his past five fights dating back to December 2022, with the lone defeat during that stretch coming against a legitimate contender in Grant Dawson. Things are looking up for Rafa.
Scheduled for UFC San Antonio
Garcia is scheduled to compete against Jared Gordon in a lightweight fight at UFC San Antonio on Sept. 13, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Garcia and Gordon will look to go 2-0 in 2025. The latter knocked out Thiago Moises in May, and the former outlasted Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision at UFC Mexico on March 29.
Garcia and Gordon will look to go 2-0 in 2025. The latter knocked out Thiago Moises in May, and the former outlasted Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision at UFC Mexico on March 29.
Earns win in native Mexico
Garcia defeated Vinc Pichel via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Mexico City.
ANALYSIS
Garcia was outworked by Pichel a good portion of this fight, and that's not what you want to see as a -375 favorite. The former won the total strike battle by a 79-64 count, but Rafa certainly landed the more notable blows, in addition to connecting on 2-of-6 takedown attempts. Never known as a cardio machine himself, Garcia dominated Pichel in Round 3 when the fight very easily could have been on the line. Garcia's 5-2 record over his past seven fights is strong, but his ceiling is severely limited by the fact he has just one knockout win in his pro career.
Garcia was outworked by Pichel a good portion of this fight, and that's not what you want to see as a -375 favorite. The former won the total strike battle by a 79-64 count, but Rafa certainly landed the more notable blows, in addition to connecting on 2-of-6 takedown attempts. Never known as a cardio machine himself, Garcia dominated Pichel in Round 3 when the fight very easily could have been on the line. Garcia's 5-2 record over his past seven fights is strong, but his ceiling is severely limited by the fact he has just one knockout win in his pro career.
Fighting Pichel instead of Silva
Garcia will now fight Vinc Pichel at UFC Mexico on March 29 instead of Joaquim Silva, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Garcia was originally scheduled to fight Joaquim Silva, but Silva has been replaced by Vinc Pichel for undisclosed reasons. Garcia has a disadvantage in height (three inches) and reach (two inches) versus Pichel, but he will undoubtedly have the crowd behind him in his home country.
Garcia was originally scheduled to fight Joaquim Silva, but Silva has been replaced by Vinc Pichel for undisclosed reasons. Garcia has a disadvantage in height (three inches) and reach (two inches) versus Pichel, but he will undoubtedly have the crowd behind him in his home country.