SAN ANTONIO, TX, April 18, 2012 – Brazilian Top Team Texas is sending its latest warrior out to battle this Friday in the form of Matthew Jones. Born in Midland and raised in San Antonio, this ever-improving fighter is a born-and-bred Texan who’s proud of his lone star state roots.
Another thing he’s proud of is his decision to devote his time to chasing his dreams in MMA.
“I got into fighting by realizing I wasn’t completing my goals in life,” he says about living an existence where he wasn’t happy with his job and felt frustrated overall.
MMA changed all that for him as soon as he walked through the doors at Brazilian Top Team Texas to begin training with coaches Marcello Salazar and Richard Smith. He’s literally been spending all day at the gym both training and teaching beginners boxing classes. Having recently added weekend strength and conditioning class to his schedule, Jones is now consumed with the sport of MMA.
‘I feel I still have a lot to learn,” he reflected when asked about his own individual goals for the sport.” Every day is a new day and a chance to learn something.”
Having a great support system, he’s confident he’ll turn his MMA career into something great, despite the fact that it initially got off to a rocky start professionally after a 3-0 amateur stint.
“My family, my daughters, and my girlfriend Victoria, she has to put up with a lot, especially when I am weight cutting. In the cage it’s my coaches Marcello Salazar and Richard Smith. They have taught me everything I know about MMA. Our team is great. We have guys at all weight classes with great grapplers and strikers. A week or so ago we had guys fight and display that skill in Sergio Hernandez, Jamall Emmers and Jewel Snell. All proved why Brazilian Top Team Texas is a strong team. Our coach recently fought in Brazil also and brought back an arm. It’s a family here, if you aren’t on the mat someone will ask why.”
This Friday night in Victoria, Matt will aim to prove exactly how strong his training has made him as a fighter when he takes on undefeated 20 year old Josh Trevino out of Edinburg, TX at STFC 20.
“This fight is important. I try not to put a lot of pressure on myself because it’s what I do now and I know there are a lot of ups and downs in this sport but this fight means a lot to me and it means a lot to my team. I d like to finish the fight on the ground or standing. I know regardless it will be a great fight”
Fighter Acknowledgements
I d like to thank all my sponsors- Revolutus Fightwear, Val has been a big help… Proformance mouthguards…Texas Metro Fire…my team, my coaches, my family, my wonderful love Victoria…and God without faith there is no victory. – Matthew Jones