STFC 32 Preview!

The Valley’s number one mixed martial arts organization returns with STFC 32, at the McAllen Convention Center on Friday night, November 7th. The main event will be a number one contenders bout, featuring Saul “El Mero Mero” Elizondo (6-3) of Roma, taking on Mission-native Leroy Martinez (3-3).

Martinez first made his STFC and professional MMA debut against Oscar Ortiz at STFC 22 Fightfest at Bikefest 3 (10/13/12), in South Padre Island. Martinez, who was a few months removed from defeating Ysidro Vega in the amateur ranks at Texas Rage in the Cage 14 (5/18/12), finished Ortiz via TKO in under two minutes, in the opening round (1:53 to be exact). He briefly explored other promotions, before returning to STFC at STFC 27 (11/01/13), where he fell short against Michael Vega, losing via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Martinez did have success in that fight though, as he showed some good pressure and powerful strikes in the second round of that encounter. Martinez jumped back inside the cage at STFC 29 – Mayday (5/16/14) to face Ruben Martinez. The kid from Mission showcased his striking, and hurt his opponent with a punch as the final round was coming to an end. The judges had it 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, for Leroy Martinez.

We last saw Elizondo in a thriller against David Armas at STFC 27 (11/1/13). After a great fight that saw fast-pace striking and grappling action, judges ruled the bout a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) victory for “El Mero Mero”. Elizondo had been working for a rear-naked choke as the time expired, finishing the contest strong and on top. Elizondo’s history with the STFC, it starts way back at STFC 10 (2/26/10), on the undercard of a Ricco Rodriguez vs Patrick Miller headliner. Elizondo made his professional MMA debut there, making Michael Rodriguez tap out via guillotine choke at 1:29 of the first round. Unfortunately for Elizondo, he lost at STFC 11 (5/28/10) against Willie Munoz via armbar, early in the first round.

He racked up two great submission victories at STFC 14 (11/27/10) and STFC 15 (4/15/11) when he defeated Kashiff Solarin and David Saldana, respectively. The vicious heel hook finish against Saldana at 42 seconds of the first frame was especially memorable. While Saldivar suffered a KO loss against Michael Sierra at STFC 16 (8/12/11), he came back strong with a pair of wins at STFC 18 (11/11/11) and STFC 21 (7/13/12) against Andrew Navarro and Randy Villarreal. He dispatched of Navarro in the first round, at the 3:19 mark, with a triangle choke. With Villarreal, he took home a split decision win.

Whoever wins this fight, will move right up the ladder, to get a crack at the STFC Texas Championship. Seeing how good Martinez’s striking looked the last time we saw him, and knowing how aggressive Elizondo is with both his striking and his grappling, this has all the making of an action-packed fight.

In a clash between Mexico vs Brazil, Eduardo Bustillos (3-0) of Saltillo battles against Fabiano Rodrigues. The two accepted to fight one another on short notice, after Bustillos’ original opponent dropped out. Bustillos is currently riding a three-fight win streak, with three submission victories in a row. The last time we saw him was at STFC 29 (5/16/14), when he defeated Raul Ramos by rear-naked choke at 1:07 of the second round.

Victor Martinez (3-2) of Pharr, is scheduled to take on Delis “Cuba” Borges (1-0), who is fighting out of Dallas. Like Bustillos, Martinez is also on a three-fight winning streak. His last fight was a decision victory over Miguel Bustos Jr. at STFC 29 (5/16/14). Borges’ lone professional win comes against Kolton Englund at Legacy Fighting Championship 31 (6/13/14).

In a clash of heavyweights, Weslaco’s Joel Castillo (2-0) will collide with Pharr’s Juan Huerta (0-0). Castillo has TKO’d Javier Rendon at STFC 25 (5/24/13) and Raul Ponce at STFC 26 (9/6/13) en route to this scrap with Huerta.

At welterweight, Gilbert Urbina (1-0) of Weslaco East High School, will square off against Jared Perez (1-0) of Corpus Christi. Urbina defeated Salvador Gonzalez via unanimous decision at STFC 29 (5/16/14), while Perez is making his STFC debut, after previously scoring a win at Legacy Fighting Championship 20 (5/31/13).

Travonne Hobbs (3-3), who fights out of Austin, returns to the STFC to compete against Guilherme Farias da Costa (0-0), originally from Manaus, Amazonas, in lightweight competition. Hobbs made his STFC debut at STFC 31 (9/5/14), where he secured a vicious KO of Salvador Gonzalez on his resume.

Pharr’s Sam Guardiola (3-1) will walk into the McAllen Convention Center, ready to exchange fists with Eliazar Rodriguez Chavez, of Dallas. If Guardiola wins, he will have effectively built a four-fight win streak. We last saw Guardiola defeat Juan Chapa Jr. via armbar at STFC 30 (7/25/14) in Victoria.

Elias Urbina Jr. (1-0) of Weslaco will fight against Aaron Smith in the middleweight division. Urbina was involved in a wild bloodbath against Joshua Sharpless at STFC 29 (5/16/14).