Sam Oropeza

Sam Oropeza (born June 17, 1985) is a former American mixed martial artist, coach, manager, boxer, and politician who most notably competed in Bellator's middleweight and welterweight divisions.

Oropeza had 16 professional MMA fights racking up a 13-3 record.

Oropeza competed professionally as a boxer where he competed as a cruiserweight and was undefeated in 2 fights.

Oropeza was a candidate for a at-large seat on Philadelphia City Council in 2023

Oropeza was born in Briarcliffe, Pennsylvania, as the youngest of six children.

At the age of 10, Oropeza lost his father to liver failure.

During his youth, Oropeza wrestled at Monsignor Bonner High School.

In 2006, he started to practice Brazilian jiu-jitsu and in 2008 he earned a purple belt.

In the same year, he fought as an amateur in mixed martial arts for the first time.

Oropeza rattled off 2 amateur finishes for New Breed Fighters in late 2008 before turning pro in 2009.

He made his professional debut on June 6, 2009, against Mitch Filer at World Cage Fighting Alliance in Atlantic City, New Jersey and defeated him via rear naked choke in the first round.

From 2009 to 2010, he was victorious against Dustin Collins via submission, Dave Concepcion via head kick knockout, and Koa Ramos via guillotine choke at KOTC: Honor Oropeza's first defeat was against fellow undefeated prospect Myles Jury at KOTC: No Mercy.

He bounced back on the biggest stage of his career up to that point by submitting Don Carlo-Clauss in front of 11,287 fans at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva.

In 2010 Sam Oropeza was selected to do a taping for the MTV show Bully Beatdown.

The premise of this show was to put 'real life bullies' in the cage to fight professional mma fighters.

If the bully is defeated, the bully's victims can receive up to $10,000.

If the bully defeats the Fighter, he earns $10,000.

Boasting a 5–1 record, Oropeza made his Bellator debut against Giedrius Karavackas on May 14, 2011, at Bellator 44.

The fight was televised live nationally on MTV2.

He was defeated via submission due to a scarf hold armlock in the third round.

The episode aired on MTV2 in 2012 and was titled David: Tears of A Clown.

Oropeza made the bully tap out 5 times in round 1 and stopped the fight with a TKO in round 2, earning the bully's victims $10,000.

Oropeza also appeared on Kevin Smith's show, Comic Book Men, on AMC.

Oropeza was seen portraying Jay from the Jay and Silent Bob duo in a staged fight between the 2 cult heroes.

After an extended break from competition, Oropeza returned to face Aung La Nsang on March 16, 2012, at Matrix Fights 5.

He won via submission due to a triangle choke in the second round.

Oropeza faced Richard Rigmaden on October 13, 2012, at XFE: Cage Wars 18.

He won via submission due to an armbar early in the first round.

In February 2013, it was announced that Oropeza has signed a long-term contract with Bellator.

Oropeza returned to the Bellator cage 2 years after he debuted to face Shedrick Goodridge on April 4, 2013, at Bellator 95.

He won via TKO in the second round.

It was later revealed Oropeza finished his opponent despite having suffered a broken tibia in the round.

On September 20, 2013, at Matrix Fights 8, in front of a home town crowd in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Oropeza defeated Brett Oteri via TKO in the first round.

Oropeza faced Chip Moraza-Pollard on November 15, 2013, at Bellator 108.

He won via TKO early in round one.

Oropeza was expected to face Fight Master winner Joe Riggs in the quarterfinal match of Bellator season ten welterweight tournament on March 14, 2014, at Bellator 112.

Riggs, however, pulled out of the bout and was replaced by Cristiano Souza.

The Fight was televised live nationally on Spike TV.

Oropeza won the fight via TKO in the first round.

Oropeza was unable to make weight for the rescheduled semi-final bout of the Bellator Season 10 Welterweight Tournament against Andrey Koreshkov.