The son of Frank and Debbie Saenz, Frankie is of Mexican descent.
26 Facts About Frankie Saenz
1.
2.
Frankie Saenz grew up in Maryvale, Phoenix playing football from the age of seven onward, picking up wrestling at his wrestling coach father's behest in the middle school.
3.
Frankie Saenz attended Marcos de Niza High School where he was undefeated state champion wrestler in 1998 and 1999 at 133-pound division receiving All American honors in his senior year.
4.
Frankie Saenz lettered all four of his high school years in wrestling along with two letterman years in football.
5.
Frankie Saenz went on to wrestle two years at Arizona State without much accolades and ended up transferring to University of Northern Colorado.
6.
At the time UNC had just transferred from Division II to Division I in wrestling, and after a year of wrestling the college was placed on probation which effectively ended Frankie Saenz's collegiate wrestling career.
7.
Subsequently, Frankie Saenz returned to Arizona and started coaching wrestling at Maryvale high school before beginning to train mixed martial arts in 2008.
8.
Frankie Saenz won WFF Featherweight championship in 2011 at WFF 7, with a TKO win over Michael Parker.
9.
Frankie Saenz made his first successful title defense against Tyler Bialecki at KOTC: Boiling Point on September 28,2013.
10.
Frankie Saenz then defended his title for the second time against Marvin Blumer at KOTC: Radar Lock on February 22,2014.
11.
Frankie Saenz was scheduled to make his promotional debut on short notice against another newcomer, Nolan Ticman on August 16,2014, at UFC Fight Night 47.
12.
Frankie Saenz later was scheduled to face Aljamain Sterling on November 8,2014, at UFC Fight Night 55, but the fight was scrapped due to Frankie Saenz being injured.
13.
On February 22,2015, Frankie Saenz fought Iuri Alcantara at UFC Fight Night 61.
14.
Frankie Saenz faced Sirwan Kakai on August 8,2015, at UFC Fight Night 73.
15.
Frankie Saenz next faced Urijah Faber on December 12,2015, at UFC 194.
16.
Frankie Saenz faced Eddie Wineland on July 23,2016, at UFC on Fox 20.
17.
Frankie Saenz lost the fight via TKO at the 1:54 mark of the third round.
18.
Frankie Saenz next faced Augusto Mendes on January 15,2017, at UFC Fight Night 103.
19.
Frankie Saenz faced promotional newcomer Merab Dvalishvili at UFC Fight Night: Swanson vs Ortega on December 9,2017.
20.
Frankie Saenz faced Henry Briones on May 19,2018, at UFC Fight Night 129.
21.
Frankie Saenz was expected to face Song Yadong on November 23,2018, at UFC Fight Night 141.
22.
Frankie Saenz was scheduled to face Marlon Vera on March 2,2019, at UFC 235.
23.
Frankie Saenz lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.
24.
Frankie Saenz faced Jonathan Martinez on August 1,2020, at UFC Fight Night: Brunson vs Shahbazyan.
25.
Frankie Saenz's bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 30 percent of his purse, which went to Saenz.
26.
Frankie Saenz lost this fight via TKO in the third round.