Background
Valencia grew up in Rosemead, California as the son of a machinist for an aerospace company and a stay-at-home mother.
Valencia grew up in Rosemead, California as the son of a machinist for an aerospace company and a stay-at-home mother.
He attended Mark Keppel High in Monterey Park, California. He graduated from Fresno State in 1995.
He has three brothers, two older and one younger. He took sixth in the state championships in his senior year. He moved on to Fresno State where he had a successful career on the Bulldogs wrestling team
Valencia made his WEC debut on March 24, 2007 at WEC 26: Condit versus
Alessio and was victorious over Antonio Banuelos via KO. Valencia defeated Ian McCall at WEC 31 via submission (guillotine choke) at 3:19 of the first round. He most recently defeated Coty Wheeler on October 10, 2009 at WEC 43.
Valencia most recently defeated Japanese striker Akitoshi Tamura on January 10, 2010 at WEC 46. Valencia was scheduled to face former WEC Bantamweight Champion Eddie Wineland on June 20, 2010 at WEC 49, but Valencia was forced off the card with an injury.
He lost the fight via submission in the second round.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On October 28, 2010, World Extreme Cagefighting merged with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As part of the merger, all WEC fighters were transferred to the UFC. Valencia faced Ivan Menjivar on April 30, 2011 at UFC 129. Valencia lost via first round TKO after a series of elbow strikes and punches.
After the loss, Valencia was released from the promotion.
King of the Cage
KOTC Bantamweight Championship (one time).