HOUSTON, TX, August 7, 2012 – If you’ve ever been to a Houston MMA event these past few years, chances are you’ve already heard of Silverback Fight Club. The home of LEGACY 13 main eventer Derrick Lewis and a whole host of other young combatants have taken on more fights than most in the recent past. They’ve also been involved with their own fair share of controversy along the way but through it all they’ve continued to persevere and grow no matter what others think of them.
As far as team character goes, these guys aren’t your classic front runners, so to speak. The majority of Silverback Fight Club fighters don’t come from a rich scholastic sports background or otherwise honed for future success in this sport from a young age.
In stark contrast, these guys are actually a collection of what could be labeled social outcasts – those that fell off the “proper” track to prosperity at a young age or come from a hardened background of life on the streets with a slim chance to make it in sports or otherwise.
Such is the case with LEGACY 13 combatant David Armas.
“I was never supposed to make it (in society),” I remember him telling us in our very first interview probably over two years ago.
Considering his background growing up in the streets and his turbulent past, that’s probably an accurate assessment for him to have made. Yet despite all odds he’s continued to fight – first as a completely green amateur compiling a 3-2 record to where he is as a pro, with a very upside-down 1-4 record but with losses to only the toughest fighters he could be matched up against and a lone win against a fighter 20 pounds heavier than his normal division.
Perception clearly doesn’t matter to him. Neither do situations where the odds seem stacked against him. Those things don’t matter after the experiences he’s been through. He’ll be fighting regardless.
David faces another such challenge when he takes on hometown favorite Quaint Kempf (5-2) in Dallas on August 17th.
Will he be the underdog? Probably. Does it bother him? Absolutely not.
He was never supposed to make it anyways.
LEGACY 13 Interview – David Armas (Silverback Fight Club)
Hi David. We’re only a few weeks away from Legacy 13 and your fight with Quaint Kempf. How does it feel to be fighting for Legacy again?
Man it feels great! I fought on the first card that was televised on HDNET and now I’m fighting on the first one outside of Houston. This makes me feel like I can actually fight. <laughs> I can’t wait to fight up there. You know that’s actually my second home (Dallas). Houston Texans all the way though!
How would you describe your career leading up to this point? Have your losses made you better in the long-term?
I’ve had some tough decisions that didn’t go my way but I would really love to avenge those losses. Seems like those guys don’t want to fight me again even though I’d give up all my money. Man I wouldn’t hesitate to fight someone that’s gonna give me his purse but that’s just me. I’m not one to make excuses but I can tell you that I’m never going into another fight unprepared or injured.
You recently won your first pro fight down in Corpus Christi for UWF fighting up not one, but two weight classes. How was that experience?
Kirk Hubble was a very strong opponent and I mean that guy was strong! A lot of people don’t know I took that fight on one week notice for personal reasons and that guy was 2 weight classes above me but I was still able to win via KO. It was a great feeling man.
What else is important to you besides fighting?
I love spending time with my nephews man. They are my life right now. I spend as much time with them as I can aside from training and sleeping. I love to sleep, anyone that knows me will tell you that. <laughs>
What else is there about you that most people don’t know?
I’m really down to earth. I don’t like going out much and I’d rather just chill or play sports. I’ve been playing sports all my life and people don’t know I can dunk a basketball.
What motivates you to perform at your best when playing sports or fighting? What about this fight in particular?
My life experience motivates me. Everything I’ve been through and am still going through makes me the fighter I am in the cage. Things may seem good on the outside but people don’t know what goes on behind the scenes. I just want to get my mom and sister out the ghetto. We’ve been living in it our whole life and I will change that. This fight is important to me because I’m fighting for Legacy so I’m training hard. Plus it’s in Dallas so me and Derrick wanna show them how we get down in H-town.
How do you feel about this fight with Quaint Kempf – a local guy from Dallas who also won recently?
I feel like it’s a great fight for me. This guy looks big, strong, and I know he has experience. I know he’s coming off a win a week ago. He’s fought damn near everyone in Dallas too. But I’m from Houston homie.
Have you done anything different to prepare for him in particular?
I’ve been lifting weights. That’s something I’ve never done for my fights as of late but I’m doing now. I want to get my upper body strength up so I’ve been hitting the weights as part of my routine heading into this one.
How do you picture this fight going?
I see him coming out strong in the first round. Hopefully we can have a fun stand up fight like the crowd would like to see but I think he may try to take me down and outmuscle me. I refuse to let that happen though. I got something for him.
Any words for Quaint before the fight?
Please don’t lay and prey on me <laughs> let’s put on a show for the crowd.
Any last words or acknowledgements before Legacy 13?
Thanks to all my brothers at the gym for everything. I love my team. They keep me motivated. I want to give a special thanks to Jason David Frank for believing in me and supporting me. He’s a true friend. I’m at RSKA every Monday and Wednesday for anyone close by that wants to come in and spar. I want to thank my sponsors. Jesus Didn’t Tap is the best MMA clothing line. MMA Grillz, thanks for making the best custom mouthguards. Thank you Training Mask for supporting me for this fight. Special thank you to Mr. Mick Maynard and Legacy Fighting Championship for believing in me and still putting me on their card. It’s truly an honor to fight for you. If it wasn’t for y’all I’d be back on the streets wasting my life. You give me hope.
I love you Mabel and Maria Armas. Y’all mean the world to me. I love you Carmen Studer and I can’t wait to see you and everyone else next week up in Dallas. Also a week after my fight (AUG 24th) my big bro Pepper is making his amateur debut for Legacy Amateur Series at Houston Arena Theatre so make sure y’all come out and show support. My lil’ bro Tony is fighting for the 135lb title and my lil’ big bro Jacob is defending his 125lb title. I love y’all and hope to see y’all there.
