MMA fighter David Castillo retires, updates in boxing, MMA

Davis County MMA professional David Castillo announced his retirement recently via a social media post. Castillo, an 155-pounder, has had a very distinguished career. He won a couple of belts, most recently a Front Street Fights title, and fought for Showdown and RFA titles.

Here's a look at his accomplishments in the cage (here) and he has a personal page as well. Castillo is currently involved in the sport as a coach, training partner and student at KOA Kingdom in Layton.

ON TO BOXING, ... The Factum gym in Sandy had an amateur boxing card on Nov. 11. Above shows Jesus Rodriguez, of Louie's gym in SLC, at left, fighting Joe Gibson of Foley's gym in Ogden (87 pounders). Gibson received the decision. In other fights involving Top of Utah boxers, 66 pounds, James Cox, of Lights Out in Clearfield, lost a decision to Diego Leidecker, Unbreakable; Ogden's Elijah Willet lost a decision to Collin Tuilevuku, 85 pounds; Christian Pasillas, Lights Out, decisioned Alex Poncde, Factum, 160 pounds; and Shakeem Barnwell, Foley's, decisioned Tristan Solies, Louie's, heavyweights.

Also, professional boxer Jose Haro, USBA and ABO featherweight champ, announced on social media that he had been called to fight for the IBF world featherweight in a London bout, only to learn later the promoters changed their minds and went with a different opponent. Jose may very well  be the finest featherweight boxer in the world. We hope he gets the chance to prove it.

MORE MMA: Several Utah MMA pros fought last weekend. In Boise, Idaho, at a Front Street Fights card, Bryce Edminister was defeated in his pro debut. In Las Vegas, amateurs Destiny McCubbin and Aaron Thomson lost decisions in Tuff-N-Uff promotional title bouts. On the same card, John Valentine, who recently retired as a pro MMA fighter, fought a submission-only five-minute Ju Jitsu match. It went to a no decision. Valentine announced on social media he will be fighting in Anaheim, Calif., at the World No Ju Jitsu Championships Dec, 16-17. Finally, Utah's Court McGee, a UFC veteran for several years, lost a close decision to Sean Strickland on Nov. 11 at UFC Fight Night 120 in Norfolk, Va.

Bryce Edminister fights on Front Street Fights MMA card

On Friday, we will post a photo gallery of the Jeremy Horn's Elite Fight Night Show at the Ogden Fairgrounds Aug. 11.

Today, we are chatting with Top of Utah amateur MMA competitor Bryce Edminister. He trains out of The Garage MMA in Layton and has compiled a 7-3-1 record. Tomorrow night he'll be competing in Boise, Idaho, fighting undefeated Kellen VanCamp. For more information, go here and here.

Our interview with Bryce:

What do you know about Kellen Van Camp. How do you match with him? What's training like?

Edminister: From what I know Kellen seems like a tough martial artist. He has been doing well in the east and has an undefeated record. I know he is seven fights in and seems well rounded. I think we match up extremely well, honestly. I see this fight being very taticle and surely a fun one to watch for the fans in Boise Idaho. My training regimen is something I'm proud of. Strength and conditioning is a daily habit and each day of the week brings about a new focus on my craft from Striking, Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling and blending them all together. I have a staff of extremely experienced and well rounded coaches. Jason Tafoya has completely reshaped my striking and turned this Jiu Jitsu guy into a Jiu Jitsu guy that is getting sharper with his hands. I also have Anthony Lobato of course who has been with me since the beginning and truly one of the best Jiu Jitsu coaches this state has to offer.. Then David Castillo who is a fighter himself, and a great one at that. Having a coach that lives and breathes the life of a fighter has been valuable. 

Front Street Fights has had some good promotions. How did this fight come to be? Who are you working out with at The Garage?

Edminister: I couldn't agree more, Front Street Fights seems like an outstanding promotion and I look forward to putting on a show. They center the fights in the CenturyLink Arena which gives it that next level feel. The fight came about just from basic networking. We've had teammates fight for Todd and Front Street in the past, then we have our coach David Castillo who is their current 155 champion. Of course when the opportunity came about I was super excited to bring a taste of the Utah combat scene to Boise. Being said, man the amount of support I've received is humbling both inside and outside of my gym. Past training partners and fighters reaching out and then of course I have my squad at The Garage who always help me get an unlimited amount of fast paced rounds in. My coaches, and then Bobby King, Miles Welk, Nate Owens, Hector Lopez, Josh Garlick, Alonzo Salas, Brandon Rease, Edgar Sorto and Steph Anie to name a few. In addition I was lucky enough to travel to Washington DC and New York to get work in with other teams and locations such as Radical MMA and Pentagon Mixed Martial Arts.

What are you MMA goals a year from now?

Edminister: My goals are pretty simple. Step into the pro world, become a champion, and then take that walk to the cage for a major promotion with my corner and squad beside me ... then we start phase two. I've been in this game for a while now and have learned many lessons. I can confidently say that my fight game is clicking more and more. The future is looking bright. Keep an eye open!

Good luck tomorrow night, Bryce. Remember, blog readers, photos from the Horn's Elite show should be posted on Friday.

Amateur boxing results, MMA pros Chandler and Castillo fights

Above is a photo of fighters, trainers and supporters at last night's New Beginnings amateur boxing card at the Legacy Events Center in Farmington. The card was sponsored by All Heart and Lights Out boxing gyms.

Below is the results of the card. I was going to type them in then realized, light bulb, that I could post the photo. The winners are circled. The last bout, the main event, won by Santana DeCarlo of All Heart, was voted Fight of the Night.

NOW, SOME MMA news ...

At the Fierce Fighting Championship card in Price last night, 155 pounder MMA pro Jordan Chandler of Ogden, who trains at One Hit MMA in Layton, won his final pro bout, stopping previously undefeated Cy Nelson late in round one.

Here's a recap from Jeffrey "Dutch" Dutcher, posted on his Fighting Out of Utah MMA Facebook page: "Nelson was winning the round till Chandler landed a mean right that dropped Nelson, then followed him to the ground to finish it."

In the main bout, 170 pounder Mike Jones stopped Ben Robinson in round one. All the result are at Dutcher's Facebook page.

And Saturday night in Council Bluffs, Iowa, veteran MMA pro David Castillo, who runs The Garage MMA gym in Layton, lost a three round decision to Dakota Cochrane. The bout is scheduled to be televised delayed on UFC Fight Pass. Here's Castillo's assessment last night via social media: "Lost a decision. Good fight. No quit. Hats off to Dakota. He earned it. No regrets."

An interview with amateur boxer Gabriel Chairez, more news

(UPDATE NOTING AMATEUR CARD ON SATURDAY)I chatted recently with Gabriel Chairez, (above at right) the Utah and Rocky Mountain Golden Gloves 132-pound champion. Gabriel has had success at the national Golden Gloves as well, and this year scored a win prior to being eliminated. I asked him what it's like competing at the top amateur level and what the future holds for him.

Utah Fight Game: Tell us a bit about the difference of fighting at nationals?

Chairez: It's a great feeling because when you beat a fighter at nationals you know your beating the top fighters in the nation. It gets you pumped to fight the next day. It's a whole other environment, and different mindset when you’re fighting at nationals compared to states and regionals because you have to be prepared to fight for a whole week straight and every one of those fights are going to be wars with some of the toughest fighters in the nation.

Utah Fight Game: What does the future hold?

Chairez: I plan on making my pro debut at the end of the summer this year, there's no exact dates yet but it's looking like it will be toward the end of July or early August!

Utah Fight Game: What are you goals for the early portion of your pro career?

Chairez: For the first 18 months I want to work my way up the rankings by facing some tough competition and by that time I would hope I'm around 10-0. Once I'm in that range I'd like to be competing for some junior belts.

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Thanks, Gabriel, and we wish you well. Gabriel's brother, Ignacio, is an undefeated professional. Both he and another undefeated Utah pro, Larry Gomez, fight on June 9 at The Complex in SLC. ... And Utah's highest-ranked pro fighter at this time, featherweight Jose Haro, goes for the NABF title on June 10 in Iowa, on a bout that will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network. ... An amateur boxing card will be in Farmington on June 3, sponsored by All Heart and Lights Out gyms. ... UPDATE, There is a local amateur boxing card Saturday at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds, 320 N. 1000 West, in Tremonton, sponsored by Fractured Gym. It's called Fist of Fury and starts at 5:30 p.m.

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MMA: 

Beginning next week, we will start publishing interviews with some fighters competing on the SteelFist card June 23 in Salt Lake City. Steve Chan and Miles Welk, who are battling in the co-main, will be interviews, as will Kaden Weston and Ben Guymon, who are matched in an amateur prelim. I have also interviewed main-bouter LJ Schultz, who is fighting for a SteelFist title, and I hope to interview his opponent, Anthony Miller. Card is here.

Locals pros Jordan Chandler, Sean Powers, and Rowdy Akers have out-of-state bouts in June that we will be keeping an eye on. 

CASTILLO ON UFC FIGHT PASS: Also, today, professional MMA fighter David Castillo announced some big news: He will be fighting the main bout, against Dakota Cochrane, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for the Victory Fighting Championship promotion. The bout will be aired on UFC Fight Pass.