Efrain Escudero

Escudero was scheduled to fight Rasul Shovhalov on January 27, 2018 at ACB 79, but the fight was cancelled.

Escudero was scheduled to face Khamzat Aushev on March 24, 2018 at ACB 83, but yet again his bout was cancelled.

Escudero returned to fight in his own Mexican MMA promotion, Lux Fight, League on February 17, 2018, scoring a first-round submission victory by choke over Jorge López Bustamante.

Escudero faced Jason High in a lightweight tournament bout at PFL 2 in Chicago on June 21, 2018. He won the fight via technical submission in the third round. The win was controversial as the referee stopped the bout when High quickly moved his hand under Escudero's body, resulting in the referee believing it was a tap. However, upon review of replays, it was clear High had not tapped.

Escudero was set to face Islam Mamedov in the next round of the Lightweight tournament. However, Escudero missed the 156-pound weight limit by over seven pounds, and the bout set for the PFL 5 show on August 2, 2018 was cancelled. As a result, Mamedov was awarded 3 points via walkover victory.

Escudero faced Gleison Tibau in a 160lbs catchweight bout at Golden Boy Promotions inaugural MMA event on November 24, 2018. He lost the bout via unanimous decision.

Efrain was scheduled to compete at the O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic against Mansour Barnaoui (13-4) on February, 7th 2017 for EuroFC's inaugural event but the event was cancelled. The bout with Mansour was to be rescheduled to a future event, but Mansour refused for unknown reasons. Efrain instead fought against Akhmet Aliev for Fight Nights Global 59 on February 23, 2017 in Khimki, Russia. Despite almost submitting Aliev in the first round, Escudero lost a unanimous decision. When Escudero returned to the United States he quickly accepted a short notice fight against former Bellator title challenger and fellow Ultimate Fighter alumnus Fabrício Guerreiro. Escudero won the fight via unanimous decision on March 18, 2017.

Efrain was scheduled to face Bellator veteran Murad Machaev in Yekaterinburg, Russia on May 25, 2017 for Fight Nights Global 66, however, Machaev pulled out of the bout for unknown reasons. Efrain faced Akhmed Aliev on February 23, 2017 at Fight Nights Global 59 and lost that fight by split decision.

Efrain decided to give himself a quick turnaround by helping fund, and run an upstart MMA promotion based out of Mexico called Lux Fight League. On July 21, 2017 Efrain competed in the main event of the inaugural event, defeating Ultimate Fighter Brazil veteran Bruno Murata by unanimous decision, handing Murata his first professional loss in the process. Following the win Efrain began a Twitter campaign to earn a spot on the Bellator Roster.

Escudero faced Musa Khamanaev on November 18, 2017 at ACB 74. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Escudero next faced Kevin Lee on April 23, 2016 at UFC 197. Despite Rocking Lee several times, and getting the better of the striking exchanges in each round, Efrain gave up several crucial take downs to Lee causing him to lose the fight by unanimous decision. Escudero was subsequently released from the promotion for a third time.

Escudero faced Rodrigo de Lima on February 14, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 60. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Escudero then faced Drew Dober at UFC 188 on June 13, 2015. He won the fight by guillotine choke submission in the first round.

Escudero faced Leandro Silva on November 21, 2015 at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Escudero was originally expected to face Francisco Trinaldo on September 13, 2014 at UFC Fight Night 51. However, Trinaldo was replaced in the bout by Leonardo Santos. Escudero lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Escudero faced Bellator vet Luis Palomino at CFA 12 on October 12, 2013 Escudero won via unanimous decision.

Escudero faced Zack Surdyka on September 20, 2013 at Bellator 100. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Escudero faced Tyson Griffin at Resurrection Fighting Alliance 4 on November 2, 2012. Escudero lost via unanimous decision.

Escudero then faced Mac Danzig on April 21, 2012 at UFC 145. Escudero lost the fight by unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion for a second time.

Efrain is father of two children; a daughter born in 2012, and a son born in 2016. Efrain currently resides in Phoenix, but also has a home in his hometown of Yuma, Arizona.

After visa-issues forced Paul Kelly out of his fight at Legacy Fighting Championship 9, Efrain was announced as his replacement. He was signed to fight Jeff Rexroad on Dec. 16th, 2011. However, Efrain was re-signed to the UFC, causing him to withdraw from the bout.

In his UFC return, Escudero faced Jacob Volkmann on December 30, 2011, at UFC 141, replacing an injured TJ Grant. He lost the fight via unanimous decision, but was very close to submitting Volkmann in the closing minutes.

Escudero was a collegiate wrestler at Grand Canyon University. Though he left the school to join the UFC, he eventually returned to earn his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 2011.

Escudero was expected to face John Gunderson on September 15, 2010, at UFC Fight Night 22. Escudero was then set to face Matt Wiman after Wiman's original opponent, Mac Danzig was forced from the card with an injury. Wiman also suffered an injury and was replaced by Charles Oliveira.

On September 20, 2010, Escudero was released from his UFC contract, making him the second TUF winner to be released by the UFC.

Escudero earned his first official win in the UFC on December 13, 2008, by defeating Phillipe Nover by unanimous decision during the main event of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir.

In 2007 Escudero stepped out of his summer fight schedule to compete in Full Moon Fighting's inaugural event held in Puerto Peñasco, Mexico. This was Escudero's first fight in his birth country of Mexico and he wore a pair of fight shorts bearing the Mexican Flag. This bout was against Tommy Wagner, whom he defeated by submission due to strikes at 1:12 of round 1.

Escudero began his career in the summer of 2006 by putting together two back to back wins in Roland Sarria's Phoenix based Rage in the Cage mixed martial arts organization. He followed up his two fight win streak the following summer by recording 7 straight wins, all by submission. This streak of submissions was the highest recorded in the year of 2007.

Escudero only fought during the summer months because he was a full-time collegiate wrestler. He competed for Pima Community College for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. While competing Efrain found himself teammates with future UFC fighters Drew Fickett, Jamie Varner, Jesse Forbes, Anthony Birchak, George Roop, Anthony Leone, and Danny Martinez. During the 2006-2007 season, Escudero placed 7th at the NJCAA national tournament in the 157 lb weight class, officially making Escudero an All-American.

Efraín Escudero (born January 15, 1986) is a Mexican mixed martial artist. He trains under Drew Fickett and competes in the 155 lb (70.3 kg) weight class. Efrain was the winner of season eight of Spike TV's reality show The Ultimate Fighter.