Natalie Salcedo

Born in California, raised on a Kansas military base, and forged in the Colorado mountains, Natalie Salcedo’s journey to ONE Championship reflects the multicultural tapestry of modern mixed martial arts.

The daughter of a Mexican father from Guadalajara and Salvadoran mother, Salcedo’s early years were shaped by constant movement when her family relocated to Junction City, Kansas, following her dad’s military service. It was there, as a teenager, that she first discovered Muay Thai at a local taekwondo school, treating the striking art as nothing more than an enjoyable way to stay active.

After years away from combat sports, Salcedo rekindled her martial arts passion when she moved to Colorado Springs at age 22. What began as a return to Muay Thai quickly expanded into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, setting the foundation for a comprehensive fighting skill set that would define her career. Under the tutelage of Ben Westrich, she eventually earned her black belt in BJJ while simultaneously accumulating over a dozen amateur Muay Thai victories and competing in various grappling tournaments.

The natural progression led Salcedo to mixed martial arts in 2017, where she dominated the amateur ranks with a perfect 5-0 record. Her transition to professional competition faced unexpected hurdles when COVID-19 delayed her pro debut until August 2021, followed by the challenge of recovering from ACL surgery before her second professional bout.

Despite these setbacks, Salcedo’s perseverance and well-rounded skill set caught the attention of ONE Championship, who signed her in 2025 to compete in their world-class atomweight MMA division. Now representing the pinnacle of mixed martial arts competition, Salcedo embodies the modern fighter’s journey – one shaped by diverse cultural influences, geographic mobility, and an unwavering commitment to martial arts excellence across multiple disciplines.