Jose Palencia Jr

Born and raised in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona in 1988, Jose Palencia Jr's story epitomizes resilience, dedication, and the spirit of a true warrior. Raised alongside his three brothers by supportive parents, Palencia's journey into the world of combat sports began at the tender age of 11 when he first stepped onto the wrestling mats at Pueblo Del Sol Middle School. Under the guidance of head coach Alex Mada, Palencia swiftly rose to prominence, clinching his first state championship and laying the foundation for a remarkable career ahead.

Palencia continued to hone his craft at Maryvale High School, where he trained alongside future Olympic gold medalist and UFC two-division champion Henry Cejudo. Guided by legendary coaches Frank Saenz, Frankie Saenz, Rick Ruiz, and Patrick Rowe, and inspired by mentor Lora Rowe, Palencia soared to prominence, winning three state wrestling championships and a national title, he demonstrated unparalleled tenacity, even winning his final state championship while battling through a torn ACL and MCL, a testament to his unyielding determination.

After a brief stint wrestling for Grand Canyon University, Palencia redirected his passion towards coaching and coached multiple wrestling state champions at Maryvale High School.  In 2012, he officially embarked on his amateur MMA career, training diligently at Arizona Combat Sports alongside his brother, under the tutelage of mentors Trevor Lally, Steve Rosenberg, and Jameson White. His amateur record of 10-2 spoke volumes of his skill and commitment, paving the way for a seamless transition to the professional arena, where he remains undefeated with a flawless 3-0 record.

Throughout his journey, Palencia has trained and learned from some of the best fighters Arizona has to offer such as UFC fighters John Moraga, Frankie Saenz, Kevin Natividad, Henry Cejudo, Ben Henderson and more. 

Now, Palencia endeavors to give back to his community by establishing Valley Combat Sports, a beacon for aspiring mixed martial artists.   When he's not on the mats, Palencia finds solace in the warmth of family, spending quality time with his wife, three children, dog and cherished friends, epitomizing the balance between dedication to his craft and devotion to his loved ones. In every sense, Jose Palencia Jr embodies the spirit of a true champion – both inside and outside the cage.