Editor’s note: This story was updated Tuesday morning to remove quotes on the fight from an Alirez family member who was misidentified.
Greeley’s Andrew Alirez, appearing in front of countless number of family, friends and fans for his MMA debut, needed only 43 seconds Saturday night for his first win.
Alirez took down Bruce Martin early in the first round of their professional 140-pound fight inside an octagonal cage on the floor at Blue FCU Arena in Loveland.
That was it. That was the evening.
Martin, from Castle Rock, darted at Alirez from the start of what was to be a 3-round, 15-minute fight. Alirez dodged and evaded Martin’s first quick strikes before coming up with one of his own.Alirez caught one of Martin’s shots, wrapped up Martin in a flash and put him on the floor. Alirez peppered Martin with punches while sitting on him, and soon the fight was stopped — much to the thrill of the Alirez fans in the crowd.
“I went in, you know, and kind of took what he gave me,” Alirez said of the short fight. “He came in real wild. So it kind of just gave the takedown. You get a guy down and start punching on him. You know, they usually stop the fight.”
MMA is a full-contact combat sport using skills and techniques from different sports such as boxing, wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kickboxing and judo.
Alirez is well known in Northern Colorado especially as a former high school and collegiate wrestling champion. Many of Alirez’s fans, including family members, lined his path into the arena and to the cage, holding up cellphones and calling his name. They were posted at a metal barrier after the fight as Alirez emerged from the cage with the win.
“My son has worked so hard and prepared for this his entire life,” said Nina Trevino, Alirez’s mother. “He deserves everything. He deserves it all.”
Alirez, 25, grew up in a family of fighters and competitors, who took on sports from boxing to MMA. Alirez’s grandfather, Mike Alirez Sr., now in his early 70s, has boxed since he was a teenager. Alirez Sr.’s sons, Mike Jr. and Andrew, also have mixed it up in different arenas. They boxed and competed in MMA — starting with Mike Jr. more than 20 years ago.
Martin’s loss was his third in three pro fights. Mike Alirez Jr., Andrew’s uncle and one of his trainers and coaches, said Andrew did everything he needed to do in the fight. Mike Jr. was not surprised Andrew won quickly.
“I know he he can do that,” Alirez Jr. said. “He’s going to be doing that a lot. Quite often. He did great.”
Alirez recently made the switch to MMA after a lengthy and high-profile wrestling career. Though he started MMA at the pro level, the fight was a low level, regional promotion. He has a ways to go before he breaks into the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the UFC, which is the best home of the sport in the U.S.
Alirez was born, raised and made his name down the road in Greeley. From there, he became a nationally and internationally known wrestler. He developed into a four-time state high school champion at Greeley Central, a top college recruit nationally and later an and All-American at the University of Northern Colorado.
After winning the NCAA title in 2023, Alirez took a year off from college wrestling to try out for the U.S. Olympic Team. He reached the , but came up short to join the U.S. for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
Along the way, as a local guy deeply proud of his Greeley roots, Alirez has collected and attracted a large and passionate fan base. He noticed those supporters again Saturday night, and he was grateful to have them on his side.
“It was an electric crowd, and they were really showing love,” he said, adding he had “no idea” on the number of fans there for him. “Greeley really came out to support. The only thing I can do is be extremely grateful.”
Alirez wasn’t the only member of his family on the scheduled 18-fight card. Cousins Donovan and Zeke Alirez fought in amateur-level bouts at other weight classes.
Donovan Alirez, also from Greeley, took on Franklin Barks at 155 pounds earlier in the evening.
Barks caught Alirez with a shot to the jaw just 12 seconds into the fight. Alirez (3-4) went down and stayed down for a long time. He eventually sat up, stood up and was able to walk out of the arena. Barks, a Palisade High School graduate, won on a knockout. Zeke Alirez met Joe Leal at 160 pounds in one of the later fight. Alirez (5-2) came up with the win in the third period. Zeke Alirez also wrestled at Greeley Central and UNC.
After Andrew’s fight, Mike Alirez Jr., said Donovan was OK. Donovan moved around and he checked out all right.
Andrew’s light night means he might be ready to fight again in about eight weeks, Mike Alirez Jr. said. Andrew said he’d like to return to the cage as soon as possible. They don’t have a second fight or opponent set.
“I’m in shape, and I’m ready to go,” Alirez added.
Mike Alirez Jr. said Andrew remained focused against Martin. The younger Alirez was in a good position and place in the short span of the fight, and he moved well against Martin.Martin was about the 10th opponent Alirez was to face in the fight, Mike Alirez Jr. said. A couple of guys dropped out over the last few months and weeks. As of earlier this month, Alirez was scheduled to meet Jeremiah McCoy from California.
“He’s really hard to match,” Mike Alirez Jr. said. “But he’s going to keep moving up the ladder.”
