Andrew Alirez

Andrew Alirez
Alirez in 2021
BornAndrew Michael Alirez
(2000-08-19) August 19, 2000 (age 25)
Greeley, Colorado, U.S.
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight141 lb (64 kg; 10 st 1 lb)
DivisionBantamweight (MMA)
65 kg (wrestling)
StyleWrestling
Fighting out ofGreeley, Colorado, U.S.
TeamPound 4 Pound Muay Thai
Catalyst Jiu-Jitsu
TrainerMMA: Said Saparov
Jiu-jitsu: Trevor Polhamus
Years active2018–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total1
Wins1
By knockout1
Losses0
Other information
UniversityUniversity of Northern Colorado (2019–2025)
Notable schoolGreeley Central High School (2015–2019)
Medal record
Men's freestyle wrestling
Representing the  United States
International Tournaments
Gold medal – first place 2023 Warsaw 65 kg
US National Championships
Gold medal – first place 2020 Coralville 65 kg
Gold medal – first place 2023 Fort Worth 65 kg
U20 Pan American Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Fortaleza 65 kg
Men's collegiate wrestling
Representing the Northern Colorado Bears
NCAA Division I Championships
Gold medal – first place 2023 Tulsa 141 lb
Big 12 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2022 Tulsa 141 lb
Gold medal – first place 2023 Tulsa 141 lb
Bronze medal – third place 2025 Tulsa 141 lb

Andrew Michael Alirez (born August 19, 2000) is an American mixed martial artist and freestyle wrestler. He competes at Bantamweight in MMA and 65 kilograms in wrestling.

Alirez was a four-time CHSAA champion in high school wrestling. He was a NCAA Champion in collegiate wrestling (2023). At the national level, Alirez was a two-time champion in freestyle. Internationally, he was a winner of the Poland Open (2023).

Career

Wrestling

2015–2019

Alirez attended Greeley Central High School, where he was a four-time state champion, multiple-time US freestyle All-American and a U20 Pan American champion.[1]

The top-recruit in the country, Alirez committed to the University of Northern Colorado.[2]

2019–2020

At the beginning of the year, Alirez recorded a fourth-place finish at the Dave Schultz Memorial International in freestyle, with a notable win over two-time NCAA champion Dean Heil .[3] Back to folkstyle, Alirez, a true freshman, took first at the Northern Colorado and the Cowboy Open tournaments, as well as second at the Southern Scuffle, during regular season.[4]

After a fourth-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, it was announced that the NCAA National Championships had been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, cutting his season short to end it with a 23–4 record.[5][6]

2020–2021

Before the season, Alirez claimed the US National Championship at 65 kilograms in freestyle, recording wins over US Open runner-up Joseph McKenna and veteran Evan Henderson.[7] Back to folkstyle, Alirez went 4–0 during the season before surrendering to an injury, but still qualified for the NCAA tournament.[8]

2021–2022

After dropping down from 149 to 141 pounds, Alirez placed second and third respectively at the CKLV Invitational and the Southern Scuffle during regular season.[9][10] Alirez then claimed his first Big 12 Championship title with wins over highly ranked wrestlers, but fell short of All-American honors at the NCAA National Championships, ending his season with a 24–5 record.[11]

2022–2023

During regular season, Alirez compiled an undefeated record and racked up titles from the Cougar Clash Invite and the Southern Scuffle.[12] He then earned his second-straight Big 12 Championship before the National tournament.[13]

At the NCAA tournament, Alirez became the first NCAA Division I National champion in UNC's history, with hard-fought wins over Lachlan McNeil from North Carolina, Beau Bartlett from Penn State and Real Woods from University of Iowa, to close out an undefeated season with 28 wins and no losses.[14] After the season, he was named the Big 12 Wrestler of the Year, and was a Dan Hodge Trophy finalist.[15]

In July, Alirez went back to freestyle to compete at the Poland Open, where he notably took out three-time World Champion Haji Aliyev in the first round to advance and defeat All-American Josh Finesilver, and lastly, took a forfeit over Mikyay Naim to claim the title.[16]

In September, Alirez announced he would be using an Olympic redshirt for the 2023–2024 season.[17] On December, Alirez became a two-time US National champion in freestyle with wins over All-Americans Beau Bartlett and Austin DeSanto, and US Open champion Alec Pantaleo, qualifying for the 2024 US Olympic Team Trials.[18]

2024

In April, Alirez competed at the US Olympic Team Trials, where after defeating NCAA finalist Beau Bartlett, he fell to US National champion and top-seeded Nick Lee in a tight loss, and subsequently forfeited out of the tournament.[19] In June, he fell to fellow NCAA champion Jesse Mendez at Beat the Streets.[20]

2026

Alirez debuted for Real American Freestyle at RAF 06 on February 28, 2026, defeating Bryce Meredith by technical fall.[21]

Mixed martial arts

In April 2026, Alirez announced that he would not attempt qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics in wrestling, and would instead pursue a career in mixed martial arts.[22]

Alirez won his mixed martial arts debut at Sparta Sports and Entertainment's AVM 17 event on April 25, 2026, defeating Bruce Martin by technical knockout.[23]

Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown
1 match 1 win 0 losses
By knockout 1 0
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1–0 Bruce Martin TKO (punches) Sparta: Army vs. Marines 17 April 25, 2026 1 0:43 Loveland, Colorado, United States Catchweight (140 lb) bout.

[24]

Freestyle record

NCAA stats

References

  1. ^ "UNC's Andrew Alirez captures wrestling national championship". KUSA.com. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  2. ^ "Greeley Central's Andrew Alirez stays true to his word and signs with University of Northern Colorado". Greeley Tribune. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  3. ^ "Greeley Central's Alirez wrestles to fourth place at Dave Schultz Memorial International". Greeley Tribune. 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  4. ^ "Alirez, Robertson Advance to Semifinals at Southern Scuffle". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  5. ^ Falk, Steven. "NCAA Wrestling Championships: Tournament canceled due to coronavirus concerns". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  6. ^ "Three Wrestlers Grab Scholar All-American Awards". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2020-04-24. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  7. ^ "Alirez, Schwartz Put the Bears on the Map at Senior Nationals". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  8. ^ Tribune, Jadyn Watson-Fisher | Greeley (2021-03-11). "Andrew Alirez withdraws from 2021 NCAA Wrestling Championship". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  9. ^ "Alirez Takes Second at CKLV". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2021-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  10. ^ "Three Northern Colorado wrestlers place at annual Southern Scuffle". The Fort Morgan Times. 2022-01-04. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  11. ^ Tribune, Jadyn Watson-Fisher | Greeley (2022-03-19). "Andrew Alirez falls just short of podium, ends season at NCAA Tournament". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  12. ^ "Alirez Wins 141-Pound Championship at Southern Scuffle". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  13. ^ "Poulin and Alirez are Big 12 Champs!". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-03-05. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  14. ^ "How Andrew Alirez inspired a new era for Northern Colorado wrestling | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  15. ^ "Greeley Native Andrew Alirez Completes Perfect Season with NCAA 141-Pound Championship". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  16. ^ "Alirez Wins Gold at Poland Open". University of Northern Colorado Athletics. 2023-07-31. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  17. ^ "Andrew Alirez to skip UNC wrestling season to train for Paris Olympics". Greeley Tribune. 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  18. ^ "Greeley's Andrew Alirez qualifies for U.S. Olympic Team wrestling trials". Greeley Tribune. 2023-12-20. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  19. ^ "Andrew Alirez's bid for Olympic wrestling team ends in semifinal match at US trials". Greeley Tribune. 2024-04-20. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
  20. ^ "Jesse Mendez tops Andrew Alirez in battle of NCAA champions". Beat the Streets.
  21. ^ Dawson, Alan (March 1, 2026). "RAF 6 results: Henry Cejudo blanks Urijah Faber; Arman Tsarukyan erupts with post-match punches". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  22. ^ King, Nolan (April 23, 2026). "NCAA champ Andrew Alirez embarks on MMA journey: 'All in on the fight'". MMA Junkie. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  23. ^ Delaney, Anne (April 26, 2026). "Greeley's Andrew Alirez wins MMA debut in 43 seconds at Blue Arena in Loveland". Greeley Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
  24. ^ "Andrew Alirez". Tapology. Retrieved May 4, 2026.
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