At the ripe young age of nineteen-year-old, Butler currently holds an unblemished 8-0 record along with two title belts in the amateur ranks while fighting as far as Austin and El Paso. With only three years of mixed martial arts experience thus far, the SFS-trained Butler has a lot of maturing ahead of him as a fighter. The fact that he’s looking to take on as many fights as possible this summer to improve on his already-impressive record will only accelerate that learning curve.
Realizing that potential, we wanted to talk to this young man from Salangsang Fighting System to learn more about him and give our readers a sneak peak at what could be a future star in the Texas MMA Scene.
Ten Questions with Rob “The HellRaiser” Butler
Question #1 – Rob, congratulations on your recent victory at the House of Blues for Legacy Fighting Championship. Did that fight go as expected?
Thanks. Yes and no, won as expected, but it wasn’t a KO or TKO that I have been wanting.
Question #2 – Digging into your record, I see that you’re an impressive 8-0 as an amateur since you started in 2009. Tell me, how did you get started in MMA?
I was 16 when I feel in love with UFC/MMA, after seeing Rampage’s slam on Ricardo Arona (see bottom of article). I was inspired and had to learn to do that. I had been looking for a school to try out when a friend told me about Salangsang Fighting System MMA in mesquite. I went, tried it out, loved it and have been there ever since.
Question #3 – How long have you been training and who are you currently training with?
It will be 3 years this October. I train with Salangsang Fighting System Mixed Martial Arts (SFS MMA) in Mesquite, Texas. Recently I started cross training with some good schools around the area.
Question #4 – When do you see yourself fighting again?
You know I am lucky to have a great team behind me; my manager schedules all my fights. I may be fighting here in a couple of weeks for Ring Rulers in LA. I’m also looking forward to fighting again for Legacy’s Amateur Series Houston, hopefully in July if I can get on the card. Then off to El Paso in August to defend my 915 MMA 145lb Championship against Jesse Jaramillo.
Yes, very soon.
Question #6 – What are some of your goals in MMA?
My goal is to travel around the world and get as much knowledge, training and experience to become a better man and fighter. And hopefully that leads me to the UFC where my ultimate goal is to be the 145 lb Champion of the World.
Question #7 – Do you see yourself at bantamweight as a pro and who are some of the Texas fighters you look up to, or look forward to fighting, as a pro?
Good question, honestly leaning more towards featherweight, still undecided right now. I recently started cross training in the Dallas area and got the opportunity to meet and train with guys like Will Campuzano and Chris Jones, they’re good guys and I have lots of respect for them. If I was pro right now I would love to fight Jose Aldo.
Question #8 – What other priorities do you have right now as a nineteen-year-old? Any aspirations outside of fighting?
Right now I am blessed to have my coach Sensei Salangsang mentoring and guiding me on the right path. I work at UPS for now, but outside of fighting I want to get my black belt in BJJ and own a MMA school one day.
Question #9 – Why are you so passionate about MMA?
The feeling of accomplishment that it gives me. It’s the best feeling in my life.
Question #10 – Any last words for now Rob?
I have to thank God for blessing me with this talent and family. I want to thank my coach Sensei Salangsang for taking me in, allowing me to become part of his family and legacy. And for showing me how to be a better man and Martial Artist. I want to also thank all my teammates that started with me and all my friends, family and community that support me. I love you all and hope to make you all proud.
The Fight that Got Rob Butler into MMA
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