Popular local MMA fighters suffer setbacks
There were some surprising outcomes during the South Texas Fighting Championship 9: Still Standing mixed martial arts show Friday night at the new McAllen Convention Center.
Popular local fighters Dee Jay Fuentes of McAllen and Joseph Daily of Weslaco suffered defeats in the main and co-main event title matches, respectively.
Fuentes (5-4), who trains with Matt Hughes’ H.I.T. Squad in Illinois, started strong but soon found himself taken to the mat by Adrian Schindler (6-1) of San Antonio and wound up losing by submission in the first round. Daily (4-1) went the three-round distance against his opponent, but lost on a decision, setting up the likelihood of a rematch.
"It most definitely motivates me and makes me hungry for my next fight," said Fuentes, who fought at 155 pounds Friday and plans to drop to 145 for his next match. "I need a win immediately now. I look forward to moving down in weight."
Posting impressive victories during the show were Edinburg’s Danny Salinas and McAllen’s Randy Fuentes, who is Dee Jay’s brother. Weslaco’s Judy Garcia lost and suffered an arm injury.
Meanwhile, the MMA/boxing show presented by Recon Garza Promotions in San Benito, also Friday, attracted a crowd of 600-plus fans for two MMA fights, a boxing match and two boxing exhibitions.
In the boxing event, Aldo Guerrero (9-2) of Mexico City prevailed over Eloy Suarez (11-7) of San Antonio on a six-round split decision. Guerrero now is expected to fight Juan "J.P." De La Rosa, who was knocked off the card by an injury.
In MMA action, Houston’s Edwin Jones (8-11) won in the first round of a rematch against Harlingen’s George Cortez (4-3), while Brownsville’s Elias Marks prevailed by tap out against Jesus Lopez of Harlingen.
The exhibition bouts featured Steve Almaraz vs. Jonathan Gutierrez and Gabriel Rangel vs. Hector Garza.
UPCOMING
Brownsville bantamweight Sergio "Time To Shine" Perales is scheduled to fight for a pair of titles in a 12-round main event Saturday at Jacob Brown Auditorium in Brownsville.
Weslaco light welterweight Omar "Panterita" Figueroa also is scheduled to fight. For information, call (956) 463-4485, (956) 206-9543 or (956) 456-9081.
Also Saturday, the Muay Thai Alliance of Texas is scheduled to present its first fully sanctioned Muay Thai event in the state, billed as Texas Revolution: Border Showdown, at 6 p.m. at Harlingen Field.
The main event is to feature San Juan native Robert Aguirre and Kirk May of Houston. For information, contact Kru Kayan Sitsanthapam at mtalliancetx@aol.com.
Roy Hess writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him via e-mail at rhess@brownsvilleherald.com.
