Joe Camacho Record: 13-19-3

A career against rising stars

Camacho's record reads like a roll call of fighters who went on to bigger things. He met Joe Stevenson a second time in 2004, this time a far more accomplished opponent, falling by a second-round rear-naked choke at KOTC: Aftershock. That same year he dropped decisions to future UFC names Rob Emerson and faced perennial gatekeeper Antonio McKee. In 2006 he fought to a draw with Mike Aina, then took on surging contender Roger Huerta and Hawaiian standout Ross Ebanez. His signature triumph came in January 2008, when he stopped veteran Thomas Denny with second-round punches at KOTC: Premiere – a statement win over a fellow grizzled circuit warrior.

Later years

Camacho kept competing into the next decade, splitting a pair of meetings with Victor Valenzuela – losing to body punches in 2008 before avenging it with a 2011 win – and absorbing a loss to Karen Darabedyan in 2009. He faced unbeaten prospect Christos Giagos in 2011 and closed his career under the Bellator banner in 2013, dropping decisions in his final two appearances. Across 35 documented pro bouts, he never stopped taking on live competition.

Fighting style

Camacho was a grappling-rooted lightweight whose finishes told two stories: of his 13 wins, seven came by knockout and three by submission, a 77 percent finish rate that reflected genuine offensive threat in both phases. His jiu-jitsu pedigree made him hard to submit and dangerous on the mat, while his punching power produced stoppages like the Denny finish. The losses on his ledger – 11 of them by decision – speak to a fighter who was repeatedly competitive against elite opposition and rarely blown out, going the distance with men who became household names.

Career highlights

• TKO of Thomas Denny (2008) — stopped the seasoned KOTC veteran with second-round punches, the signature finish of his career.
• MMA pioneer and BJJ instructor — competed for over a decade across KOTC, PXC, EliteXC and Bellator while founding his own jiu-jitsu academy.
• Tested by future stars — shared the cage with Joe Stevenson, Roger Huerta, Antonio McKee and other notable names, proving a durable measuring stick for rising talent.