Who Is Richie Miranda? Meet ‘El Machete,’ the LFA Champion Who Fought His Way to the UFC

As of August 2026, Miranda holds a professional MMA record of 13-2 and competes in the UFC lightweight division.

Richie Miranda Fighter Information

Who Is Richie Miranda?

Richie “El Machete” Miranda is an American professional mixed martial artist competing in the UFC lightweight division.

Based in Santa Ana, California, Miranda entered professional MMA after first developing as a wrestler. Over time, however, he expanded his game considerably.

Boxing became another major part of his style. Meanwhile, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and general MMA training helped turn him into a much more complete fighter.

Before signing with the UFC, Miranda became one of the most experienced lightweights competing in LFA.

His run there included championship success, repeated title defenses and several fights that tested his ability over five rounds.

Rather than viewing the long wait for a UFC contract negatively, Miranda later said he believed the extra time helped prepare him better for the opportunity. By the time the call arrived, he had already accumulated three belts and experience fighting 25-minute bouts.

What Is Richie Miranda Known For?

Richie Miranda is best known for his wrestling base, developing boxing, high-pressure style and championship run in LFA.

His record shows that versatility clearly.

Among his 13 professional victories, Miranda has earned five wins by knockout or TKO, three by submission and five by decision.

Therefore, opponents cannot prepare for only one route to victory.

Earlier in his career, Miranda produced several finishes. Later, as the level of competition increased, he also proved that he could fight deep into championship bouts.

That combination became particularly important during his LFA run.

Miranda fought through difficult rounds, defended his championship and gradually established himself as a fighter many observers believed belonged in the UFC.

Why Is Richie Miranda Called “El Machete”?

Richie Miranda fights under the nickname “El Machete.”

The identity has become closely connected to his personality and fighting style.

“Chopping time” is one of Miranda’s regular catchphrases, while the machete theme also appears throughout the way he talks about fighting.

Before receiving his UFC opportunity, Miranda repeatedly spoke about “chopping” opponents down piece by piece.

The nickname fits his aggressive approach particularly well. Instead of relying on one huge moment, Miranda often looks to wear opponents down through pressure, wrestling, boxing and accumulated damage.

He has also used the phrase “It’s chopping time” around his fights and title defenses.

What Is Richie Miranda’s Background?

Miranda’s path into combat sports began long before his professional MMA career.

As a child, he regularly watched major boxing events with his father. Fighters such as Juan Manuel Márquez, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather were among the names he remembered seeing during that period.

Eventually, wrestling became his own competitive outlet.

Miranda began wrestling seriously in high school at around 14 years old. Later, he competed at Santa Ana College before continuing his education and wrestling career in Nebraska.

Once his wrestling career ended, however, he still wanted competition.

That desire led him toward mixed martial arts.

Miranda trained for only around four months before taking his first amateur MMA fight. He won that bout by second-round TKO, and the experience convinced him to continue.

How Did Wrestling Shape Richie Miranda?

Wrestling remains one of the foundations of Miranda’s MMA game.

Even after becoming a professional fighter, he continued returning to wrestling rooms and training the discipline regularly.

More importantly, Miranda believes wrestling develops qualities that extend beyond technique.

He has spoken about the mental toughness, discipline and lifestyle that come from the sport. As a result, wrestling remains one of the first martial arts he recommends to young athletes interested in eventually competing in MMA.

The influence is visible inside the cage as well.

Miranda can pressure opponents with his hands while still having the option to change levels, wrestle or force extended grappling exchanges.

Consequently, his boxing and wrestling work together rather than functioning as completely separate parts of his game.

Who Does Richie Miranda Train With?

Richie Miranda has trained with CSW Training Center and Bloodline, while UFC veteran Cub Swanson has played a major role in his development.

Miranda has specifically identified Swanson as one of his coaches.

His broader coaching group has also included boxing coach Dale Roy Ball and Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach Filipe Demonica.

Additionally, Miranda has trained as a purple belt under Erik Paulson, the longtime martial artist and catch-wrestling figure associated with CSW.

Training is not limited to one discipline.

Miranda continues working on boxing, wrestling, MMA and jiu-jitsu because he believes modern fighters must constantly improve across every area.

Bloodline has also become important to Miranda because of the team environment.

He has described the group as close-knit, with fighters pushing one another through both good and bad training days.

That atmosphere helped him prepare for the jump from LFA champion to UFC fighter.

What Is Richie Miranda’s Fighting Style?

Miranda describes boxing and wrestling as the combination that works best for him.

The wrestling provides a strong base for controlling where fights take place. Meanwhile, his boxing allows him to pressure opponents and create damage on the feet.

However, Miranda is not limited to those two areas.

His professional record includes three submission victories, including a guillotine choke, rear-naked choke and bulldog choke.

Furthermore, he regularly trains jiu-jitsu and has worked to round out every part of his game.

When discussing his preferred combination, Miranda specifically identified boxing and wrestling as his strongest pairing.

Cardio is another important element.

Years of preparing for five-round LFA title fights meant Miranda became accustomed to 25-minute contests.

Therefore, when he received a three-round UFC opportunity, he believed he could increase the pace because he was already conditioned for longer fights.

What Did Richie Miranda Accomplish in LFA?

LFA became the promotion where Richie Miranda transformed from prospect into proven contender.

He compiled an impressive run inside the organization and eventually captured the lightweight championship.

Among the biggest wins of that stretch was his fifth-round TKO of Richie Lewis at LFA 207 in April 2025.

Miranda then defeated Ilay Barzilay by unanimous decision over five rounds in August 2025.

His championship run continued into 2026.

At LFA 233, Miranda faced Robert Varricchio and scored another finish. After hurting him with a left hook, Miranda secured a bulldog choke in the second round.

That performance proved particularly important.

Miranda later said the fight showed that he was ready for the next level, while his title defenses had already demonstrated his ability to perform consistently against strong competition.

Why Did Richie Miranda Have to Wait So Long for the UFC?

Miranda’s UFC opportunity took longer than many expected.

By the later stages of his LFA run, he had already built a strong record, won a title and successfully defended it.

However, the UFC call did not immediately arrive.

Miranda later explained that people had been telling him since he was around 6-0 that he might be only one fight away from a Contender Series or UFC opportunity.

Still, more fights followed.

Rather than becoming consumed by frustration, Miranda said he believed in timing.

Looking back, he felt that entering the UFC earlier might have meant arriving without the same championship experience or overall preparation.

By 2026, he had fought 25-minute contests and collected multiple belts. Therefore, he believed the extra years had ultimately made him more UFC-ready.

How Did Richie Miranda Get Into the UFC?

The UFC opportunity finally came suddenly.

Miranda had finished training when he noticed a message from Cub Swanson asking whether he could make 155 pounds for August 8.

Miranda immediately said yes.

However, he did not initially know whether the fight was completely official.

Later, while running at the beach, he saw online confirmation that the matchup had been announced.

At that point, the years of waiting were over.

Miranda was officially a UFC fighter.

The circumstances were fitting for someone who had spent years staying ready for exactly that type of opportunity.

Rather than needing months to prepare from scratch, Miranda had remained in training while waiting for the call.

What Happened in Richie Miranda’s UFC Debut?

Richie Miranda made his UFC debut against Manoel Sousa on August 8, 2026.

The bout went the full three rounds.

Ultimately, Sousa defeated Miranda by unanimous decision, handing “El Machete” the second professional loss of his career.

As a result, Miranda’s record moved to 13-2, while his UFC record became 0-1.

Although the debut did not produce the result he wanted, it represented the completion of a long journey from regional MMA and LFA championship fights to the UFC Octagon.

More importantly, one defeat does not erase the experience that got him there.

Miranda remains a fighter with a strong wrestling background, multiple finishing threats and years of high-level regional competition.

What Is Richie Miranda’s MMA Record?

As of August 2026, Richie Miranda holds a professional MMA record of 13 wins and 2 losses.

His victories include:

• 5 wins by KO/TKO
• 3 wins by submission
• 5 wins by decision

Both professional defeats have come by decision.

His first loss was a split decision against Kegan Gennrich in April 2023.

Miranda then won seven consecutive fights before suffering a unanimous-decision loss to Manoel Sousa in his UFC debut.

What Are Richie Miranda’s Goals?

Reaching the UFC was always a major target, but Miranda has never spoken as though simply signing the contract was enough.

Before his debut, he openly discussed testing himself against established lightweights.

At the same time, his mentality has generally centered on whoever is directly in front of him.

Miranda has described himself as someone who accepts the name he is given and then goes to work.

That mentality produced one of his more memorable descriptions of himself before his debut: a “contract killer” who waits for the opponent’s name before it becomes “chopping time.”

Ultimately, the longer-term goal is to climb the lightweight division.

However, Miranda’s career to this point suggests he is comfortable taking that progression fight by fight.

What Does Richie Miranda Say About His Fighting Style?

Miranda has described the experience he wants fans to see as “beautiful violence.”

That phrase fits his approach.

He wants action whether the fight is taking place in the striking exchanges, wrestling positions or submission scrambles.

Moreover, Miranda does not view himself as a fighter who simply survives until the final bell.

Finishes remain part of the objective.

Before reaching the UFC, he said he wanted to show championship-level experience while still looking for opportunities to end fights early.

That mentality also explains why the “El Machete” identity has become so closely tied to his fighting career.

Why Does Richie Miranda Stand Out?

Richie Miranda stands out because he reached the UFC with significantly more experience than the typical newcomer.

He was not an unbeaten prospect being rushed toward the spotlight.

Instead, Miranda arrived after years of regional competition, a long LFA run, championship fights and multiple title defenses.

His game also has clear layers.

Wrestling built the foundation. Boxing became one of his strongest weapons. Jiu-jitsu added submission threats. Five-round fights then tested his conditioning and composure.

Outside the cage, Miranda also remains closely connected to Santa Ana.

He has spoken proudly about representing the city and credits his family and local support system for staying with him throughout his career. His parents, in particular, have attended many of his fights, while Miranda has described them as his heroes.

The UFC debut may not have ended with a victory, but Miranda’s story was never built around one night.

“El Machete” took years to reach the Octagon.

Now the next stage of his career begins.

Richie Miranda FAQs

Who is Richie Miranda?

Richie “El Machete” Miranda is an American professional MMA fighter competing in the UFC lightweight division. He is also a former LFA lightweight champion.

What is Richie Miranda’s real name?

His full name is Richard Miranda.

How old is Richie Miranda?

Richie Miranda was born on August 12, 1994. He is 32 years old as of August 2026.

Where is Richie Miranda from?

Miranda fights out of Santa Ana, California.

What is Richie Miranda’s MMA record?

Richie Miranda holds a professional MMA record of 13-2 as of August 2026.

What is Richie Miranda’s UFC record?

Miranda is 0-1 in the UFC as of August 2026.

Who did Richie Miranda fight in his UFC debut?

Miranda faced Manoel Sousa in his UFC debut on August 8, 2026.

Did Richie Miranda win his UFC debut?

No. Manoel Sousa defeated Richie Miranda by unanimous decision.

What is Richie Miranda’s nickname?

His nickname is “El Machete.”

How tall is Richie Miranda?

Miranda is listed at approximately 5-foot-8.

What is Richie Miranda’s reach?

His listed reach is 75 inches.

What weight class does Richie Miranda fight in?

Miranda competes in the lightweight division at 155 pounds.

What is Richie Miranda’s fighting style?

Miranda is a wrestler with a strong boxing game who also trains jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and overall MMA. He has specifically described boxing and wrestling as his best combination.

Who is Richie Miranda’s coach?

UFC veteran Cub Swanson is one of Miranda’s main coaches.

What team does Richie Miranda train with?

Miranda has trained with CSW Training Center and Bloodline in Southern California.

Was Richie Miranda an LFA champion?

Yes. Miranda became an LFA lightweight champion and successfully defended the title before joining the UFC.

What is Richie Miranda’s Instagram?

Richie Miranda’s official Instagram is @el_machete714.