Introduction
Frankie Ozuna Saenz III (born August 12, 1980) is an American mixed martial artist in the bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2009, he made a name for himself fighting mostly in his native state, where he was King of the Cage Flyweight Champion (135 lb), World Fighting Federation Featherweight Champion and Coalition of Combat Featherweight Champion.
Background
Frankie Saenz is of Mexican descent.He began training MMA in 2008. He has a background in wrestling, and wrestled for Arizona State and the University of Northern Colorado; also, holds a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
He won WFF Featherweight championship in 2011 at WFF 7, with a TKO win over Michael Parker. Later in the next year, he lost his belt via disqualification to Jeff Fletcher due to an illegal knee to head of grounded opponent.
In 2013, Saenz won KOTC Flyweight (135 lbs) championship, with a submission win over Marvin Garcia. He defended his belt twice, against Tyler Bialecki and Marvin Blumer.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
After his second title defense on KOTC, Saenz signed with the UFC on August 7, 2014. He was scheduled to make his promotional debut against another newcomer, Nolan Ticman on August 16, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 47. Saenz won the fight via unanimous decision.
Saenz later was scheduled to face Aljamain Sterling on November 8, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 55, but the fight was scrapped due to Saenz being injured.
On February 22, 2015, Saenz fought Iuri Alcântara at UFC Fight Night 61. As a 7-1 underdog, Saenz defeated the #8 ranked Alcântara via unanimous decision.
Saenz faced Sirwan Kakai on August 8, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 73. He won the fight by split decision.
Saenz next faced Urijah Faber on December 12, 2015 at UFC 194.He lost the back-and-forth fight by unanimous decision.
Saenz faced Eddie Wineland on July 23, 2016 at UFC on Fox 20. He lost the fight via TKO at the 1:54 mark of the third round.
Saenz next faced Augusto Mendes on January 15, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 103. He lost the fight by split decision. Both participants were awarded Fight of the Night for their performance.
Saenz faced promotional newcomer Merab Dvalishvili at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega on December 9, 2017. He won the fight by split decision.
Saenz faced Henry Briones on May 19, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Saenz was expected to face Yadong Song on November 23, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 141. However, it was reported on November 7, 2018 that he pulled out of the event due to injury and he was replaced by newcomer Vince Morales.
Saenz was scheduled to face Marlon Vera on March 2, 2019 at UFC 235. However, Vera pulled out of the fight on February 27 due to illness and the bout was scrapped from the event. The bout was rescheduled to UFC Fight Night 148. Saenz lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.
Saenz faced Jonathan Martinez on August 1, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan. At the weigh-ins, Martinez weighed in at 140.5 pounds, four and a half pounds over the bantamweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 30 percent of his purse, which went to Saenz. He lost this fight via TKO in the third round.
Championships and accomplishments
- King of the Cage
- KOTC Flyweight Championship (One time)
- Two successful title defenses
- World Fighting Federation
- WFF Featherweight Championship (One time)
- Coalition of Combat
- COC Featherweight Championship (One time)
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 19 matches | 12 wins | 7 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 4 |
| By submission | 2 | 0 |
| By decision | 7 | 2 |
| By disqualification | 0 | 1 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 12–7 | Jonathan Martinez | TKO (knee and punches) | UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs. Shahbazyan | August 1, 2020 | 3 | 0:57 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (140.5 lb) bout; Martinez missed weight. |
| Loss | 12–6 | Marlon Vera | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Pettis | March 23, 2019 | 1 | 1:25 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 12–5 | Henry Briones | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Santiago, Chile | |
| Win | 11–5 | Merab Dvalishvili | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs. Ortega | December 9, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Fresno, California, United States | |
| Loss | 10–5 | Augusto Mendes | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Penn | January 15, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Loss | 10–4 | Eddie Wineland | TKO (punches) | UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko | July 23, 2016 | 3 | 1:54 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 10–3 | Urijah Faber | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 194 | December 12, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 10–2 | Sirwan Kakai | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Saint Preux | August 8, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 9–2 | Iuri Alcântara | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Bigfoot vs. Mir | February 22, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Porto Alegre, Brazil | |
| Win | 8–2 | Nolan Ticman | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Bader vs. St. Preux | August 16, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Bangor, Maine, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 | Marvin Blumer | TKO (doctor stoppage) | KOTC: Radar Lock | February 22, 2014 | 4 | 5:00 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Defended the KOTC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 6–2 | Tyler Bialecki | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Boiling Point | September 28, 2013 | 1 | 4:53 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Defended the KOTC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 5–2 | Marvin Garcia | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: World Champions | May 25, 2013 | 2 | 4:10 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Bantamweight debut. Won the KOTC Flyweight Championship. |
| Win | 4–2 | Jade Porter | Decision (majority) | Coalition of Combat: Pound for Pound | September 15, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Won the Coalition of Combat Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 3–2 | Jeff Fletcher | DQ (illegal knee) | World Fighting Federation 8 | May 12, 2012 | 1 | 4:12 | Scottsdale, Arizona, United States | Lost the WFF Featherweight Championship. |
| Loss | 3–1 | Cody Huard | KO (punch) | TCF: Rumble at Ranch 2 | November 5, 2011 | 1 | 2:34 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | Michael Parker | TKO (punches) | World Fighting Federation 7 | October 22, 2011 | 1 | 3:08 | Tucson, Arizona, United States | Won the WFF Featherweight Championship. |
| Win | 2–0 | Ruben Gonzales | Decision (unanimous) | TCF: Rumble at Ranch 1 | April 23, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Kenneth Mendoza | TKO (punches) | World Fighting Federarion 1 | October 16, 2010 | 1 | 4:26 | Tucson, Arizona, United States |