Javier Cepeda: “In the Game for Big Checks”
After a highly successful 2015 as an amateur mixed martial artist, life would throw Javier Cepeda a curve ball, that would lead to a change in his combat sports career. Now back focused on MMA, Cepeda will make his pro MMA debut at Friday’s LFA 58 at the Route 66 Casino’s Legends Theater. The bout will be a rematch against Ricky Esquibel, who Cepeda submitted in his last amateur contest in February of 2016.
The drive to give MMA his all comes from the person Cepeda has always looked up to.
“The drive is my brother (Andreas Quintana). I see him succeeding, winning 100K and a big trophy, getting so much attention. He’s always been huge drive for me, ever since we started boxing. He got me into Boxing. I followed him and I started doing great, He was doing great. Just seeing him a step above me all the time, I always wanted to follow him, get higher, and be a great fighter like him.”
On this bout being a rematch.
“Of course I see this as a rematch. I’ve seen him fight and he’s not evolved, not showed me anything interesting. I don’t see him beating me at all. He’s the same guy and his punches are weak. His wrestling is weak. His submission game is terrible. I’m just ready to get in there, Its kind of like a tune-up match for me. This is just a little step to get my career going.”
AXS TV Main Card @ 8 PM MST
155: Harvey Park (10-2) vs. Jaleel Willis (9-1)
125: Demetrius Wilson (6-2) vs. Joby Sanchez (11-4)
155: Fernando Padilla (11-3) vs. Donald Sanchez (31-19)
145: Luis Gavinho (8-4) vs. Vincent Fricilone (8-1)
155: Sherwin Price (5-1) vs. Flavian Pilgrim (4-1)
170: Maycon Mendonca (6-4) vs. Josh Moreno (4-0)
145: Natan Levy (2-0) vs. Henry Barahona (3-3)
Prelims @ 6 PM MST
170: Jalin Fuller (0-0) vs. Andrew Lipp (1-1)
125: Javier Cepeda (0-0) vs. Ricky Esquibel (3-2)
