CJ Vergara
12-7-1
About
Scrappy Texas flyweight grinding through the UFC ranks with heavy hands and a penchant for dramatic comebacks, despite chronic weight-cut struggles.
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CJ Vergara is a 33-year-old flyweight from Laredo, Texas, who has spent the last 13 years pursuing a childhood dream of competing in the UFC. Training under Pete Spratt in Muay Thai from age 17, Vergara compiled a solid 8-2 record in regional promotions before earning his shot on Dana White's Contender Series in 2021. He made his octagon debut in November that year at UFC 268, immediately hitting a snag: a unanimous-decision loss to Ode Osbourne at a catchweight after weighing in 1.4 pounds over the limit. That miss would prove to be the first of several troubling weight-cut issues that have dogged his UFC tenure and earned him criticism for unprofessionalism.
Vergara's early career was a mixed bag of close losses and gutsy wins. He suffered an armbar submission to Tatsuro Taira in October 2022, but sandwiched victories around those defeats, including a hard-fought split decision over Kleydson Rodrigues. His signature moment came in March 2023 when, facing Daniel Lacerda on short notice, he was knocked down in the first round before mounting a stunning comeback to finish via TKO in the second. The performance earned him Fight of the Night honors and a 2023 Fan's Choice Comeback of the Year nomination, temporarily positioning him as a feel-good story of resilience.
His style is that of an aggressive, heavy-handed striker who lands volume from distance and hunts the left hook. Vergara absorbs significant incoming strikes and has been caught grappling multiple times, falling to submissions (armbar against Taira, face crank against Edgar Chairez). He thrives in shootouts and is capable of explosive finishes: 7 of his 12 UFC wins have come via KO or TKO. However, recent form has been dire. After winning a unanimous decision over Vinicius Salvador at UFC 291 in July 2023, Vergara has lost three straight: a unanimous decision to Asu Almabayev, a devastating first-round knockout to Ramazan Temirov, and a first-round submission to Chairez in March 2025. The losses have raised questions about his level, and per reports, Vergara was removed from the UFC roster in April 2025 following that third consecutive defeat, effectively ending an active career in the promotion.
Why fans love Vergara
His knockout power and refusal to give up, exemplified by the Lacerda comeback. Post-fight interviews emphasize faith and discipline ("This Is My Church"). Long career investment and explicit childhood dream of UFC fighting resonates as an underdog narrative.
Why some fans hate Vergara
Chronic weight-cut failures: Vergara has missed weight or weighed heavy in at least five UFC fights, repeatedly fighting at catchweight and forfeiting purse percentages. This is perceived as unprofessionalism and disrespect to opponents. Three consecutive first-round or early finishes (losses to Temirov and Chairez) suggest he may be outmatched at this level, eroding fan confidence.
