STFC Mayhem Preview

It’s fight week!

With STFC Mayhem happening this week, here is what you need to know about the promotion’s 25th event. STFC has been bringing the valley action packed MMA events since 2007 when they debuted under the banner of STFL. Since then they have produced great shows, created stars out of Valley MMA fighters and even had a big hand in creating “El Goyito” Erik Perez who is now a UFC star and the face/lucha mask for UFC’s Mexican demographic push.

STFC is coming off one of the most memorable shows to date with two main events that could headline any other STFC card by itself. The winners of those two fights have moved to the next stage in their career by signing with Legacy FC. Frank Trevino signed a 3 fight deal for the promotion(long overdue) and Carlos Diego Ferreira is slated to headline Legacy FC 20 on May 31 from Corpus Christi which will be shown on AXS TV. If both have impressive wins both fighters could find themselves in the UFC before the year is over. With two of the biggest names in STFC’s stable now signed to Legacy FC and their titles(Lightweight, Welterweight and Middleweight) in the air, now is the time for someone to make a claim for the titles.

The evening is scheduled to feature 8 fights and is headlined by the returning Dee Jay Fuentes(8-8) who has been out of the cage since 2011 when he took on Nick Gonzalez in a great fight for the now defunct UWF promotion. Fuentes was originally scheduled to face Brownsville’s Luis Vega but injuries have sidelined Vega. Taking his place will be Javier Obregon(4-4) who is fighting out of Fort Worth, Texas. Fuentes has said that if he is successful in defending the belt in this tilt he would vacate the title to move down to the 135lb division to increase his chances at getting a shot in UFC. The 26-year-old Fuentes is currently on a two fight winning streak but those wins all came in 2011 but he has been keeping active by still working out and training fighters. Obregon on the other hand is coming off a 2 fight losing streak and looks to end this streak by capturing the title and moving to 5-4 in his career. While this may look like a battle of parity based on the records this should be a good main event that should see DJ showing off his arsenal of striking while Obregon tries to weather the storm. Truth be told, after this fight is done I’m still, like most MMA valley fans, will be seeking a Fuentes/Vega showdown hopefully in the Summer. Let’s just hope the STFC brass can convince the fighters to take the fight.

Serving as the Co-Main event will be one of the Valley’s most popular fighters, Danny Salinas(10-5), taking on Jorge Cortez(2-7) after Fabian Saldivar pulled out citing an injury. This is another match up that I was anticipating because of the ramifications that were at stake. Salinas was looking to rebound after losing his title to Diego Ferreria while Fabian Saldivar was on his way to becoming one of the Valley’s newest MMA star. Saldivar purposely called out Salinas cause he needed a name to raise his stock and right now the biggest fish in STFC stable is Danny Salinas. Cortez was originally scheduled to take on the returning Abram Torres but it seems by the updated card that Torres is no longer fighting with Cortez taking Saldivar’s sport. This should be a fun affair with both men looking to hit the showers early. I wouldn’t expect this fight to go to the judges.

The third fight from the top features The Gotch Special sponsored Javier Rendon taking on the debuting Joel Castillo who fights out of Ultra Fit MMA. Rendon is looking get his first win in the STFC cage since he was caught by a kimura last December against Vernon Lewis. Since then Rendon has been up and down the Texas MMA circuit improving his craft and adding wins to his record. Castillo has been quite vocal leading up to his debut on what he is going to do to Rendon so when that cage closes and the bell rings we are going to see if Castillo is capable of backing up that talk.

The bottom half of STFC Mayhem will be a showcase for the up and comers looking to make their presence felt. Roman Hernandez who I believe will be the next big thing in the Valley will be fighting against the stacked George Powery. Hernandez is known in the BJJ community as grappling prodigy that takes on men half his age and submits him with absolute ease. How do I know? Because he tapped me out 3 times within 30 seconds when I rolled with him last year! Powery is coming off a loss at the hands of Fabian Saldivar at the last STFC while Hernandez will be making his debut. Hernandez will lack the experience in the cage but if/when he takes down Powery this could easily end as soon as it hits the ground.

David Salazar/Clemente Menguito is another interesting bout that will be taking place. The much hyped Menguito(37) was successful last December in his debut with a TKO finish over Oscar Ortiz. Menguito was scheduled to fight this past February against Sam Guardiola but had to pull out due to injury. Now the man who seems to never age is back in the STFC cage and ready to take on David Salazar who sports a record of 0-1 and last fought in November at a catchweight of 150. This fight will be contested at the 135 weight limit.  The MMA community has not seen the full potential of either men but if one key factor is coming into play into this fight it will be the cardio. One intersting note of this fight has nothing to do with this fight is that Clemente Menguito seems to already have another fight lineup next month for Charlie Clark’s Nissian(you sang the tune, didn’t you?) MMA promotion. I hope he’s not looking pass this opponent cause that would be a huge mistake. Never underestimate your opponent.

Bustillos/ Soria and Garza/Soto will be battling clean up as the third bout of the night and be the fight of four debuting fighters looking to get a “1” on the right hand side of the column. Seeing new fighters is something special especially if they rise through the ranks like Perez did in STFC. Opening the event will be Joe Serna(0-2) taking on Derrick Perkins(1-0) who had only win in five  amateur fights but has started off his pro career on the right foot with a win in March. Not shown in the image below of the scheduled card is Abram Torres taking Donnie Bell after Cortez replaced training partner Salidvar.

When: May 24th. Doors open at 7:00pm with the opening bell at 8:00pm

Where:
Mcallen Convention Center

Tickets: $25 to $75 at Box Office or Ticketmaster.com .

Weigh-ins: