Team Shorty photo via Facebook By IMMAF.org lead writer, Jorden Curran. Amateur MMA’s most successful graduate continues to make history; Jose Torres is now a 2-division professional world champion, and he’s just getting started. The international amateur pioneer, who posted a 25-1 record, made history as the first competitor to win back-to-back IMMAF world titles in Las Vegas, first securing the bantamweight tournament gold medal in 2014 and retaining the title in 2015 having qualified through the USA MMA Federation’s (UMMAF) national championships. The 24-year-old graduated to become the first 0-0 professional fighter to join top UFC feeder promotion Titan FC, and was the first amateur veteran to win a professional world title as he secured the Titan FC flyweight championship in just his third pro bout with a second round KO victory over Abdiel Velazquez. Following a TKO victory in his first title defense against experienced Brazilian Pedro Nobre, it was announced that Torres would take the inspired move back up to bantamweight for the first time since his dominance of the world amateur scene. [caption id="attachment_13865" align="alignright" width="490"]
Jose’s proud Mother celebrates victory with her son – photo via Facebook[/caption] On May 19 ‘Shorty’ battled the defending Titan FC bantamweight champion Farkhad Sharipov and after five rounds of action was crowned as the promotion’s first 2-division world champion via a unanimous decision triumph through which he displayed endurance, stamina and grit in outlasting Sharipov’s early onslaught. With each step he takes the former amateur trailblazer continues to build a legacy unlike that of any athlete before him and is credited as one of the top world champions currently outside of the UFC. Now 5-0 and with multiple titles to boot, what is next for Torres and could we be looking at a future great? “Jose continues to be a brilliant ambassador and is an example of everything we do,” IMMAF president Kerrith brown stated. “He did not accept the old way of turning pro after just a handful of amateur bouts and his extended success through the USA MMA Federation and IMMAF world championships makes him a pioneer of our pathway to success. With each professional triumph he showcases the depth of what it means to be an IMMAF gold medal winner. Congratulations on behalf of everyone at IMMAF.” You can still catch all of the action on UFC Fight Pass.]]>
Trailblazing Torres continues to make history as 2-division pro champion
