I recently spoke to Tony Orozco-trained fighter in order to gain some insight into what fuels the young fighter in preparation for his upcoming title bout.
Growing up without a father figure and spending much of his adolescence living life on the streets, David mentioned that he really did not have many role models growing up in a not-so-nurturing environment. Falling into status quo in his neighborhood, David, or “Davo,” as he is known to those close to him, ended up living a life of crime at a very young age, ending up in a gang, robbing and stealing in order to fit in.
Eventually, that lifestyle culminated in a four year jail sentence, earned at the ripe-young age of sixteen.
Upon his release, a now-20 year old David Armas saw his first amateur MMA match and caught the training bug – eventually ending up training at Silverback Fight Club, the place he now calls “family.” With some hard lessons learned and the pressures of the streets now behind him, David Armas has chosen to turn his life around with the help of his band of brothers and their father-figure, Silverback head coach Tony Orozco.
“We speak the truth and don’t hide anything from each other. Just like a family should. Our coach has been through a rough life himself so he can relate. When you look at fighters in the UFC coming out of Brazil who have to fight to get out of poverty, those are the kind of fighters you can compare us to,” says Armas.
Read on and get to know more about David Armas prior to his May 14th title shot at the Legacy Amateur Series.
David, to start, take me back to the very beginning – to life before fighting. What was it like growing up?
Man that brings back so many memories. Well it wasn’t really a great life growing up. I remember my father being there for us when we were young then disappeared so I had really no male role model to look up to. My mom was always in my life but she would work all day to support us (I have three brother’s and a sister).
I spent all of my time in the streets and started living the way people in my neighborhood did. I looked up to the men in my environment and started seeing them as my father figures. I got involved in a gang, started smoking, robbing, and stealing; fighting all while I was still in elementary school. That’s really all I was known for growing up was being a trouble maker and that led me to a four year sentence in jail when I was 16.
You started training after you spent some time in jail. How did that decision to get into the gym come about?
I went to the gym and sparred a few guys and even though I didn’t have any technique at the time I still had heart. Tony saw that and told me the gym was open for me whenever I was ready to train. I was on parole and going to school at the time so I couldn’t. June of 2010 after school was done I got into the gym and started training every day, got my first fight three months later, and the rest is history.
Have you stayed out of trouble ever since you’ve been in MMA? What do you think Mixed Martial Arts has done for your life?
Yes MMA truly has. It’s kept me away from the streets, drugs, women, just has made me a better person in general. MMA has showed me respect and discipline something that I lacked of before. I love MMA. Just hate the training sometimes, lol. A lot of people and fighters tell me that I have a bright future in it. I really can’t wait to reach my full potential and start fighting some of the best in the world.
“Only God Can Judge Me.” I see that quote on your chest. I can symbolize with its meaning. But what does that mean quote mean to YOU? Seriously, give me a REAL answer.
It means that nobody’s opinion nor what they have to say about me on this earth matters. The few people that are in my circle know what I stand for. Everyone else doesn’t understand. A lot of people say that I haven’t changed because I’m still hurting people by fighting MMA and that I’m still the same but they don’t know what the fuck they’re talking about. They don’t understand what I’ve been through and don’t see the progress that I’m making. God knows and he “overstands” never under. Only God Can Judge Me. No human can. Not even the judge who sentenced me. He said I’d be back in jail to and look at me now.
Other than that, I see you have Silverback tatted on you too. I’ve spoken to a few of your teammates and coach in the past so I know you guys are tight knit – as much a family as you are a gym. I also know a lot of you guys have had rough times growing up and/or getting in trouble. Why do you guys gravitate to that environment and do you think that’s brought y’all even closer as a team/family?
Yes because we overstand each other. We can relate to one another. We speak the truth and don’t hide anything from each other. Just like a family should. Our coach has been through a rough life himself so he can relate. When you look at fighters in the UFC coming out of Brazil who have to fight to get out of poverty, those are the kind of fighters you can compare us to. Not skill wise yet maybe because they’ve been doing it for so long but those are the kind of guys you can compare our hearts to. There isn’t a better MMA gym that I could’ve had take me in other than Silverback Fight Club. I love them. From our flyweight Jacob Silva all the way to our heavyweight Derrick Lewis.
What’s training like over there?
We train hard! Tony pushes us beyond limits. He’s very passionate and wants us to be successful. It’s great to have sparring partners like Scotty, Lil Tony, Jacob, Tank, Nacho, Chile, Cody, and others because we make each other better. We know what we’re capable of and we don’t try to kill each other. We don’t need all the fancy equipment and world class coaches. That will come later. We have real fighters at heart. We were made for this.
Now you recently moved to Dallas to film a movie, right? What’s that experience been like? You still out there or back here in the H for good?
What was it like training over at Mohler’s for you?
It’s great! Mr. Mohler is a great person/instructor. Best jiu-jitsu hands down. Looking forward to earning my blue belt under him soon.
They’ve got a lot of talent over there. Anybody you worked with most?
Yes they do Will Campuzano, Jason Sampson, JJ Holmes, Chris Jones just to name a few. Those guys are relentless. They’re going to help me reach my full potential as well as my Silverback family back home. With these two gyms guiding me I will become a great fighter. I work with everybody here. All these guys are helping me.
Sounds like you’re really gearing up for this title shot at Legacy. How have you gotten better since last year?
Yes sir I am. I can’t wait! I’ve become a much better all around fighter now. I was all about stand up back then but now I don’t mind if the fight goes to the ground. I’d rather keep all my fights standing but I’m way more experienced now. Jiu-jitsu and wrestling is something I’ve worked very hard on. I’m ready for whatever the fight brings.
What do you know about your opponent, Manny Lozoya?
He’s a cool guy. We’ve been cool since before this fight. We’ll still be cool afterwards. He’s a respectful person like I am. This fight is just business. I’m not going to hold anything back. I want this belt and I feel it’s my time.
How do you guys match up against each other?
I think we match up good. He’s an aggressive fighter who doesn’t back down. Has a lot of heart. He’s ranked #2 so I don’t think there’s a better opponent for me out there right now being that I already fought Colin which is ranked #1. Colin I’m coming for you.
How do you do expect him to try and beat you? What are you going to do to try and beat him?
I expect him to stand and then take it to the ground. I think he may try to submit me. I know he won his last fight by RNC but that’s not going to happen with me. This is going to be a great fight! I’m going to try to knock him out in the first round like I do with all of my other opponents. I’ve been working on my cardio more than I have for any of my other fights so I’m ready.
What’s next for you after this fight? Going pro?
Any last words?
First off I want to thank a lady by the name of Carmen Studer. She is me and my brother Mack’s angel sent from heaven. Without her we would be in jail or dead. Thank you Carmen for believing in us when no one else did. We love you. I want to thank my good friend and President of Meal Systems Mike Starks for this great opportunity he gave me. I want to thank Jason David Frank for sponsoring me and being my friend. Anyone that hates on my bro JDF feel free to hate on me to please. If he has 1,000,000 haters I want to have 1,000,001 so I can beat him, haha. JDF much love bro!
I want to thank Position of Power and my bro Dieter Cantu. I am a chairman of this non-profit organization made to help minority men. This is what I work so hard for. Special thanks to Mark Kolter owner of Outback Steakhouse in Meyerland. Thank you for seeing me for me and all the love and support you’ve showed me. Also a man by the name of Blaise Vice President of Outback Steakhouse. I want to thank the whole OneHeart organization for believing in us and helping us become better men and make a change in a forgotten generation.
Special thanks to Russell Lake. Thanks to Chris and DFC for sponsoring me. I want to thank Zona Latina and Richard for sponsoring us now. This is where the after party for our fights May 14th will be. See y’all there! I also want to thank Babe’s and Donny for sponsoring me and giving me a job as a bouncer when I was living in Houston and times were getting rough for me. I want to thank my boxing coach Jesse Mendez for the extra work he put in with me as well as his daughter Johanna for all the love they’ve showed me.
Of course I want to thank Tony, Jazz, my mother Maria, sister Mabel, and EVERYBODY at Silverback y’all are forever in my heart. I love ya’ll to death. Thank you to Mr.Mohler for taking me into your gym. If I forgot you I didn’t do it on purpose. You know who you are and where we stand together. I am forever grateful for everyone that’s helped me. I love you all with all my heart. God Bless you all. Now let’s go to the top.
TXMMA’s Coverage of the March 14th Legacy Amateur series
- Interview – Legacy Bantamweight Title Contender Manny “el Animal” Lozoya – here
- Interview – Silverback’s David Armas; Fighting this Saturday for Legacy Amateur Bantamweight Belt! – here
- Legacy Amateur Series – May 14th Updated Fight Card for Houston! – here
