Fabian Anthony Saldivar’s reputation as one of the Rio Grande Valley’s most experienced and competitive mixed martial arts fighters remains intact.
Saldivar, an ex-marine from Santa Rosa, went against Mission’s Stephen Perez in a highlighted event of Friday’s STFC 43 mixed martial arts cage fighting show at McAllen Convention Center. The two 155-pounders squared off in a no-gi (not wearing a kimono) submission super match of 10-minute jiu jitsu fighting, which was a first for an STFC competition.
Neither fighter could gain enough of an advantage to submit the other, so after 10 minutes of combat, the match was declared a draw, leaving Saldivar with a 6-3-1 record and Perez with a 4-3-1 mark.
The Santa Rosa fighter said he enjoyed the chance to display his jiu jitsu fighting skills.
“Definitely,” he said. “I’m a huge fan of the sport of jiu jitsu, so to get in the STFC cage, where I’ve been nine times already, and be able to display a martial art that I’ve grown to love was awesome.
“There is a huge jiu jitsu scene here in the RGV (with competitors) ready to show their skills, too,” he added. “Hopefully, the STFC keeps these types of jiu jitsu super fights going. Or maybe I’ll put my own show together. It’s possibly something (to think about) in the future, and definitely something I would love to do.”
Saldivar said Friday’s jiu jitsu fight coincides with a new martial arts school that is being formed in Edinburg and could open by the end of the year. He currently trains with Cinco Elite in Weslaco and SOTX BJJ in Edinburg.
“Along with my team, we are opening a school in Edinburg that is devoted to teaching the many disciplines we display inside the cage from jiu jitsu to kickboxing to wrestling,” Saldivar said. “It is called MVMT (movement) Academy.
“We really want to focus on developing the skills of our students to keep the RGV a competitive force in the martial arts community and develop future athletes.”
Among the winners at Friday’s STFC 43 show were Eli Rodriguez of Weslaco and Zachary Farrington of Harlingen.
UPCOMING
Mission’s Luke Flores (7-0) fights as the main event on UFC Fight Pass Tuesday in Las Vegas against Matt Frevola (5-0) of Tampa, Florida. It’s a battle of mixed martial arts lightweights.
exas Rage and South Texas Fighting Academy present the Extreme Fight Night 4 show Saturday at 440 West Mile 3 Road in Palmhurst. It will take place at South Texas Fighting Academy arena with Weslaco heavyweight Eric “Drummer Boy” Molina (25-4, 19 KOs) set to fight in the main event against Cory Phelps (16-9-1, eight KOs) of Catlettsburg, Kentucky. Mixed martial arts fights are also scheduled along with boxing. The event originally was scheduled Aug. 19, but has since been moved to this Saturday.
A fight card is scheduled to take place Sept. 22 at Brownsville’s Amigoland Convention Center with Brownsville featherweight Johnny “Blaze” Tapia (7-1, two KOs) fighting in the main event. Brownsville lightweight Jerry Guevara (9-3-1, six KOs) is also set to fight on the show.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess
