Fabian Anthony Saldivar is eager and ready to fight.
That’s probably an understatement.
The mixed martial arts competitor from Santa Rosa will be among the featured fighters at Friday’s STFC 41 show at McAllen Convention Center.
Saldivar is scheduled to go against featherweight opponent Edgar Diaz of Monterrey, Mexico. It will be a matchup of 145-pounders.
The other fight headlining the STFC 41 cage fighting show has Luke Flores of Mission facing Sonny Luque of Laredo in a matchup of 155-pound lightweights. In all, nine fights are scheduled on the card.
Saldivar (6-2) has been battling back from injury for approximately two years and now feels 100 percent ready to fight this week.
“As far as my opponent (Diaz), I asked match maker Raul Ramos for a fight that would put me back in contention for a title fight,” said Saldivar, an ex-marine and former high school all-around athlete at Santa Rosa. “Diaz just fought the undefeated (STFC) lightweight champion (Luke Flores) and took him the distance, which no one had done in the champion’s career, so I know he is a tough opponent. But I’m looking to do what the champion couldn’t (do) to remind everyone who has forgotten (about) the skills I bring to this sport.”
In his last fight, Saldivar lost to Josh Montalvo of San Benito on a fourth-round technical knockout during STFC 36 on Aug. 15, 2015. Saldivar suffered a should injury in the match. The setback halted Saldivar’s six-fight winning streak.
“I feel great now, and yes, I’ve been out for a good while,” Saldivar said. “I feel like I was in such a huge rush to get back in there and avenge the loss (to Montalvo) that I never let myself properly heal. I was set to get back in the cage last year, but I re-injured myself during that training camp. It was at that point (in 2016) that I dedicated myself to properly healing my body.”
Saldivar’s primary gym for training is Cinco Elite Martial Arts School in Weslaco. He also has been cross training at other gyms and has sought help from additional coaches and health experts in making his comeback from injury.
“I’m feeling strong and ready for this bout,” he said.
For more information about Friday’s STFC 41 show, call (956) 414-8698 or (956) 562-2622.
UPCOMING
The Battle of the RGV 5 amateur boxing show is scheduled Feb. 10-12 at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Showgrounds in Mercedes. For more information, go to www.staba.org
The Recon Jiu Jitsu Championships are scheduled at 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at the RGV Livestock Showgrounds in Mercedes. For more information, contact Sarge at (956) 536-5287.
Weslaco super bantamweight Brandon Lee Figueroa (10-0, eight KOs) is scheduled to fight Feb. 21 in Houston against an opponent to be announced.
Extreme Fight Night combining pro boxing and mixed martial arts matches is scheduled at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at Golazo Soccer in Pharr. Among the fighters on the show are Raphael Murphy, Luis Castro, Pablo Ramirez, Josette Rodriguez, Roel Moreno Jr., Genaro de la Paz, Alexis Nino, Fernando Ramirez and Sonny Aguirre. The show is being presented by Texas Rage and South Texas Fighting Academy. For ticket information, call (956) 456-5786 or (956) 460-7808.
