Flyweight Chris Rivera will look to verify blue chip status; Takes on Mike Deleon at Legacy Amateur Series 11

HOUSTON, TX, April 1, 2013 – The Houston area’s next amateur MMA event is coming up again this Saturday on the Southwest side of town as Mick Maynard and crew present Legacy Amateur Series 11 this Saturday night, April 6^th at the Houston Arena Theatre.

The card features two title fights up top but also features a whole host of up-and-comers with their own title aspirations.

One of them in particular is a 21 year old flyweight by the name of Christopher Rivera. Training out of American Combative Systems (ACS) in Webster, Chris has moved ahead to a 2-0 record (both finishes) since debuting in the sport in mid-2012 but his coaches also feel he can do a lot more.

“He (Chris) is definitely to look out for. His wrestling and how he’s picked up everything in MMA is going to be very dangerous for his opponents as he continues to evolve,” says ACS coach/owner Drew Raticheck.

With a dad that’s been coaching wrestling for 20-plus years, Chris was practically born into the sport. He was ranked #2 in the state as a high school junior and transitioned into MMA post scholastic life. Aside from training he’s also running like a collegiate cross country athlete as well. Add that to everything he’s doing in the gym and what you get is someone who by all accounts should be labeled a “blue chip prospect.”

“I feel like I’ve progressed more and more as I continue to train,” his says about where he’s at in his training. And he’s having fun as he continued to evolve as well.

“My last fight was truly one to be remember… I was fighting Dat Nguyen, a very skilled stand up fighter. It was a “Rocky” kind of fight. I enjoyed every moment of it. I just felt like working my hands that night, so that’s exactly what I did. I enjoy MMA for what it is in its simplest terms… a fight! We struggle and fight for what is right almost every day of our lives. Physically fighting in a cage only serves to me as a sort of expression of such struggles. The two wins I’ve gotten in MMA have to serve as the most memorable moments I’ve ever experienced in competition. It’s defiantly a trip!”

Next up for Rivera this Saturday is Hard Head Hitter Mike Deleon, himself undefeated at 1-0.

“I feel great about the match up,” he says about his opponent. “I’m training smart and training hard so this should be fun! You know I never give away the ending but we’ll see on Saturday night! Then after this it’s belt or bust! This fight is also a dedication to one of my best friends who happened to pass a few months back due to a fatal car crash. This one is for him, and everything he fought for, as well as believed in. Bringing home a win for him is something I plan on doing. See you at the event!”