5 Things You Might Not Know About Ricky Turcios

Firm footholds are few and far between in the Ultimate Fighting Championship bantamweight division—a reality Ricky Turcios knows all too well.

The 31-year-old Texan will attempt to get back on track when he squares off with Bernardo Sopai in a UFC Vegas 100 showcase this Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Turcios enters the Octagon having lost two of his past three bouts. He last suited up at UFC on ESPN 57, where he surrendered to a rear-naked choke from Raul Rosas Jr. on June 8. It was the first submission defeat of his 16-fight career.

As Turcios moves ever closer to his latest assignment at 135 pounds, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. Wide-ranging weaponry fills his arsenal.

Turcios holds the rank of black belt in taekwondo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, though his well-rounded skills have not yet translated to stopping ability inside the cage. Only four of his 12 career victories—a paltry 33% of them—have resulted in finishes.

2. Early returns were promising.

“Pretty Ricky” made his professional debut at the age of 20 and took a split decision from Colin Wright under the Legacy Fighting Championship banner on July 19, 2013. Turcios went on to win his first eight bouts, establishing himself as a prospect with some giddy-up and go on the regional circuit.

3. Gold raised his stock profile.

Turcios captured the Fury Fighting Championship bantamweight title at FFC 12, where he cut down Trent Meaux with punches in the third round of their Sept. 10, 2016 pairing. He later surrendered the company’s 135-pound championship in a technical knockout loss to Leomana Martinez.

4. His persistence paid off.

The Houston native failed in his attempt to enter the UFC via Dana White’s Contender Series when he wound up on the wrong side of a three-round unanimous decision against Boston Salmon in 2017. Turcios was cast on Season 29 of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series some four years later, eliminating Dan Argueta and Liudvik Sholinian before being awarded split scorecards against Brady Hiestand in the bantamweight final at UFC on ESPN 30.

5. He seeks wise counsel.

Turcios splits his training between Team Alpha Male in Sacramento, California, and a Gracie Barra affiliate in Spring, Texas. Those camps offer him regular access to a number of respected coaches, including former World Extreme Cagefighting, King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge champion Urijah Faber.