Brian Ortega

Brian Ortega kicks off this list as one of the most beloved Mexican fighters in the sport. The jiu-jitsu practitioner started his career 14-0 (1 NC) and earned his way to a title shot after defeating the likes of Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson, Renato Moicano, and Clay Guida. Ortega ultimately fell short when it came time to fight for the belt, but showed immense toughness, heart, and Mexican spirit in both of those fights against Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski, despite losing those fights. Ortega has never won a UFC title but is a staple of Mexican fighting spirit, and you can never count him out in a fight.

Irene Aldana

Irene Aldana made serious waves in the women's bantamweight division and is a thirteen-fight UFC veteran. The former title challenger has fought multiple former champions and owns some wins over the best bantamweights in the world. Aldana has always stuck around in the top half of the division and is always right there in line for the title. Aldana has some of the best boxing in the division and displays a crazy heart and determination inside the cage. She'll never give up on herself, and some of the wars that she's been in show.

Yair Rodriguez

Yair Rodriguez was a dynamic prospect coming out of Mexico and quickly made a name for himself in the UFC. Winning his first six fights in the promotion, Yair got fans' attention due to his flashy and aggressive striking. Rodriguez has the best kicking game in MMA and is one of the best strikers in the sport. The former interim champion owns wins over some of the best fighters in the division's history in BJ Penn, Dan Hooker, Chan Sung Jung, Brian Ortega, and Josh Emmett. Yair is also known for his knockout over The Korean Zombie with a crazy upward elbow in the final seconds of the fight.

Alexa Grasso

Grasso made history in 2023 by becoming the first Mexican woman to win a UFC title when she upset one of the greatest female fighters of all time, Valentina Shevchenko to win the Flyweight title. Grasso is very well rounded, but best known for her boxing, and has shown a lot of growth in her UFC career. Nobody gave her a chance against Valentina, and she went out and proved everyone wrong in the first fight, became the first to knock Shevchenko down, and retained her title in a draw in the second fight. Grasso will serve as the co-main event on the monumental card this weekend and will try to settle the score with her rival.

Brandon Moreno

The first Mexican-born fighter to win a UFC title, Brandon Moreno is the face of Mexican MMA. From being the last pick on The Ultimate Fighter to winning the season and becoming a champion has made him a fan favorite and a trailblazer for Mexican fighters coming up. His epic rivalry with Deiveson Figueiredo which spanned four fights, including putting on one of the greatest fights in the division's history, was also a big moment in his career. Moreno is still fighting elite competition and although he has since lost the Flyweight title, he is always within reach of the belt.

When you look at the faces of Mexican fighters, these are it. The amount of contribution each fighter has made towards the growth of the sport, fighting for their country, and inspiring future generations is phenomenal. This weekend, at UFC 306, several of these fighters will be on display in part of an event that honors the rich history of Mexico and combat sports.