Ivan Menjivar
Active 2011–present · rated in 1 edition · peak overall 75.0
Scouting report
Born in La Paz, El Salvador and representing Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada, Ivan "The Pride of El Salvador" Menjivar competed across the WEC and UFC bantamweight divisions. His striking combinations, jiu-jitsu defense, and veteran experience across multiple eras of MMA are reflected in an 82 Cardio rating and 80 BJJ.
Peak ratings
Ivan Menjivar and the Montreal submission specialist
Ivan Menjivar was born in La Paz, El Salvador, and moved to Montreal at eleven. He started with kung fu before moving into Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He turned pro in 2001, retired after a loss to Bart Palaszewski in the IFL, then returned four years later and submitted Aaron Miller with a triangle. He joined the WEC in 2010, right before the merger. His run in the top promotion produced two Submission of the Night awards, so pick him for the ground game.
How Menjivar's numbers work
Boxing. Respectable. He finished Charlie Valencia with elbows and punches in the first round in 2011.
Kickboxing. A little behind his boxing but adequate for keeping distance.
Wrestling. Enough to survive, though Mike Easton and Wilson Reis both beat him on the cards.
BJJ. His best skill rating. He earned Submission of the Night for a rear-naked choke on John Albert and for an armbar on Azamat Gashimov.
Strength. The lowest rating. His success came from technique rather than physical pressure.
Durability. He made it to decisions against Pickett and Easton, showing he can absorb pressure.
Cardio. The top rating at 82. His fight with Pickett went a full three rounds and earned Fight of the Night.
Fight IQ. Experienced, having made his debut in 2001, and he returned to win again after a four-year layoff.
Cardio backs up the submissions
His cardio rating is 82, his highest. He went three rounds with Brad Pickett in a Fight of the Night at WEC 53, and he finished John Albert in 2012 with a rear-naked choke in a back-and-forth first round that ranked seventh among the best submissions of the year in a year-end list. A high engine plus an 80 in BJJ makes him dangerous late.
Strength is his lowest number
At 72, strength is the lowest rating. Urijah Faber submitted him in the first round in 2013, and Wilson Reis and Hatsu Hioki beat him on the cards. A strong grappler who can neutralize his guard and take the top will beat him.
Keep exploring
Closest bantamweight profiles to Ivan Menjivar, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Louis Smolkabest cardio 82 · weakest strength 70
- Davey Grantbest cardio 82 · weakest strength 73
- John Castanedabest cardio 82 · weakest strength 74
- Brad Pickettbest cardio 84 · weakest strength 74
- Bantamweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Protecting your streak: a guide that fits Ivan Menjivar's strongest attribute, Cardio.
Draft Ivan Menjivar into your build
Ivan Menjivar enters the pool on any spin landing on bantamweight between 2010 and 2013. Spin, draft eight attributes, then simulate 25 fights.
Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Ivan Menjivar is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Ivan Menjivar's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.