Alberto Montes Record: 12-2-0

Building the case on the regional scene

His comeback announced itself in February 2021 at Titan FC 67, where Montes submitted the 8-2 Richie Santiago with a first-round anaconda choke – a finish that previewed the weapon he would lean on again and again. The only blemish on his record came that December, a second-round TKO loss to the unbeaten Ira Lukowsky at Titan FC 73. Montes answered with a tear: a 2023 first-round D'Arce choke of Adam Ortiz at Combate Global, then back-to-back anaconda chokes in 2024 over Kevin García and Carlos Calderon, the latter on Dana White's Contender Series to lock down his UFC contract.

Arriving in the Octagon

Montes delivered on his promise in March 2026, making a winning UFC debut at UFC 326 against former Ultimate Fighter winner Ricky Turcios. True to form, he wrapped up the durable Turcios with a second-round anaconda choke – the same hold that has defined his rise – pushing his professional record to 12-1 and signaling that his grappling translates cleanly to the elite level.

Fighting style

Montes is a choke artist first and foremost. Seven of his twelve wins have come by submission, and his finish breakdown leans heavily on front-headlock variations – the anaconda and D'Arce chokes – that he hunts the instant a scramble breaks his way. With four decision wins and one knockout, his overall finish rate sits near 67 percent, and the pattern is clear: he wants the fight on the mat, where his jiu-jitsu and tight squeeze take over. The lone loss, a TKO, hints at vulnerability in extended striking exchanges, which is why Montes is at his most effective when he can close distance and turn the contest into a grappling problem his opponents simply cannot solve.

Career highlights

• Winning UFC debut — submitted former Ultimate Fighter winner Ricky Turcios by second-round anaconda choke at UFC 326.
• Contender Series finish — earned his UFC deal by choking out Carlos Calderon in 2024, one of four straight wins on his run to the big show.
• Submission specialist — built a 12-1 record with seven submission wins, repeatedly closing the show with his signature anaconda choke.