Alex
Caceres was viewed more as an oddity than a legitimate
competitor when he first entered the
Ultimate Fighting Championship. More than a decade later, such
sentiments no longer hold weight.
“Bruce Leeroy” will make his 27th appearance inside the Octagon
when he toes the line against
Julian
Erosa in a
UFC Fight Night 216 featherweight showcase on Saturday at the
UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Caceres, 34, has rattled off five wins
across his past six outings. He last competed at UFC Fight Night
203, where he was outpointed to a unanimous decision by
Sodiq
Yusuff on March 12.
As Caceres seeks to rebound from his latest setback, a look at five
of the many moments that have come to define him:
1. Stumbling Block
World Extreme Cagefighting veteran
Mackens
Semerzier submitted Caceres with a rear-naked choke in the
first round of their UFC Fight Night 24 prelim on March 26, 2011 at
KeyArena in Seattle. Caceres capitulated 3:18 into Round 1, as he
crashed and burned in his organizational debut. Semerzier
capitalized on recklessness and mounted the colorful Miami-based
fighter on the third of his three takedowns, transitioned to
Caceres’ back and went to work with punches. He seized further
control with a body triangle and caught Caceres in the choke as he
postured up from the bottom. The tapout followed soon after, as
Semerzier put the finishing touches on a rude welcome.
2. Striking Paydirt
Caceres recorded what was at the time the most significant victory
of his career when he took a unanimous decision from former WEC
champion
Cole
Escovedo as part of the UFC on Fox 1 undercard on Nov. 12, 2011
at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. All three cageside
judges struck 30-27 scorecards. Caceres established his reach
advantage early with his legs and his arms, and his counterpart
never managed to successfully navigate it. Combos—technical and at
times flashy—flowed from Caceres, who scored at will on the feet
and left the “Apache Kid” visibly frustrated. When the action did
spill onto the ground, Caceres fought effectively from his back.
Escovedo struck for a quick takedown in Round 3, only to be met
with a series of submission attempts, including a triangle choke
and an armbar. Back on the feet, Caceres’ superiority was
unquestioned, as he kept the seasoned veteran at bay and posted his
first win inside the Octagon.
3. Phenomenal Upset
A steppingstone Caceres was not. “The Ultimate Fighter 12”
semifinalist submitted prized
Roufusport prospect
Sergio
Pettis with a rear-naked choke in the third round of their
featured UFC on Fox 10 bantamweight prelim on Jan. 25, 2014 at the
United Center in Chicago. The previously unbeaten Pettis, just 20
years of age at the time, tapped 4:39 into Round 3. No victory on
the Caceres resume has aged better. He appeared to be outgunned and
a step slow through the first five minutes, as Pettis peppered him
with an array of punches and kicks. However, everything changed in
the second round, where Caceres floored the Milwaukee native with a
searing straight left. Pettis seemed out of sorts from that point
forward. In the third round, Pettis failed on a takedown attempt
and wound up in bottom position. He then fished for a heel hook,
only to leave himself exposed. Caceres transitioned to his back,
cinched the choke and landed the submission with a little more than
20 seconds remaining in the match.
4. Throttled Down
Former
King of
the Cage and WEC champion
Urijah Faber
submitted Caceres with a rear-naked choke in the third round of
their featured UFC 175 bantamweight prelim on July 5, 2014 at the
Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. Faber brought it to a
close 69 seconds into Round 3. “The California Kid” used a
tried-and-true approach, pairing right hands with takedowns and
ground-and-pound. Caceres had his moments, including an exquisite
two-punch combination in the second round that snapped back Faber’s
head. However, he found himself on the defensive far too often.
Faber struck for a final takedown early in the third round,
transitioned immediately to his opponent’s back and cinched the
choke.
5. Close Call
“The Ultimate Fighter Latin America” Season 1 winner
Yair
Rodriguez pushed a merciless pace across five rounds at
elevation and escaped with a split decision against Caceres in the
UFC Fight Night 92 headliner on Aug. 6, 2016 at the Vivint Smart
Home Arena in Salt Lake City. Judges Glenn Trowbridge and Tony
Weeks saw it 48-47 for Rodriguez, while Derek Cleary struck a 49-46
scorecard for Caceres. Rodriguez blended traditional techniques
with wild spinning attacks and unorthodox kicks. The taekwondo
black belt at times overwhelmed Caceres with volume but never had
the
MMA Lab rep in real danger. Caceres made his most substantial
moves in the third round, where he flurried with punches, connected
with a knee to the body and scrambled into to top position,
applying his ground-and-pound from a crouched position. Rodriguez
righted his ship in Round 4, as he backed up “Bruce Leeroy” with
kicks to the legs, punches upstairs and another barrage of spinning
punches and kicks. Though Caceres landed a takedown in the fifth
round, he failed to consolidate it with damage or control.
Rodriguez kept his foot on the accelerator until the end, capping
his performance with a last-second cartwheel kick that missed the
mark but nevertheless wowed the crowd.