Dixon MMA Fighter Rios Aims For KO This Weekend

Dixon native Christian Rios wants to make an impact in the mixed martial artist world not for himself, but rather so that his three kids can say their father is and has always been a fighter.

“I do this for them,” Rios said. “I do this to be a role model for them. That way they can see me as a fighter. That’s what I do to feed them and to provide for them.”

The 22-year old bantamweight looks to get one step closer to that goal this weekend, as Rios (1-0-1) will fight Edgar Diaz in the lightweight division – 10 pounds heavier than his bantamweight status – at “Annhilation,” presented by Rebel Fighter at the Amador County Fairgrounds this Saturday.

Fighting at a heavier weight doesn’t bother Rios, seeing as his first pro fight was against a heavier opponent. In that fight he defeated Curtis Cadini at lightweight, winning via submission 34 seconds into the first round.

“They couldn’t find me a fight at flyweight so I chose to fight at 135, which is no problem,” he said. “I feel good doing it.”

Competing in a heavier weight class isn't the toughest challenge Rios has experienced. He became a father in high school, (graduating from in 2006) and welcomed two more daughters into the world just three years later.

“It was tough, but I got through it and I’m here,” he said.

Rios started training in 2008 with MMA fighters James Irvin and Scott Smith, learning striking and kickboxing skills while starting his amateur career. Fighting on short notice, Rios finished 3-3 in amateur bouts.

When Irvin’s gym closed down, Rios moved on to train with Uriah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness gym in Sacramento.

But working the graveyard shift at Cardinal Health meant Rios was getting three hours of sleep before he trained, a grind that turned out to be too much. Rios would take a full 12 to 18 month break from fighting when his twin daughters were born in 2009, but the desire to fight didn’t leave him away for long.

Rios trained with Allegiance MMA in Woodland on his return, but it wasn’t long before he felt the need for an added push for success. He sent an e-mail to Strikeforce lightweight fighter to Gilbert Melendez to see if he could train at his El Nino Training Center in San Francisco, and Melendez accepted.

“Ever since then, I’ve been part of their team,” Rios said. “Part of the ‘Skrap Pack.’ That’s my team, that’s my camp.”

He said that his skills have gone through the roof since joining Melendez’s crew.

“The kid is good,” gym manager Eduardo Vargas said. “He tries, he learns. He’s a quick learner. He’s going to put on a good show and he’s going to show he’s been training with some of the best guys out in the Bay.”

Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight fighters Jake Shields, Daniel Roberts and Nick Diaz also train at Melendez’s gym.  Vargas said the fighters train in a group.

“When you’re training with some of the better fighters in the world, you pick things up,” he said.

Diaz, Rios’ opponent this weekend, fights out of the American Kickboxing Association gym in San Jose, where current UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velazquez trains.

“They got a good team but we got a better team,” Rios said. “It’s going to be good.”

An eventual goal for Rios is to get a spot on the Ultimate Fighter, a reality show where contestants fight each other for a six-figure UFC contract, he said.

Rios wants to build more victories before applying for a spot on the show, and this weekend’s contest could prove to be a step towards a possibly life-changing opportunity. He knows it'll be a challenge trying to show his skills are superior from other fighters in order to get chosen for the show.

But he's hopeful to prove that it's just another battle in his life that he'll overcome and win.

“The way I fight, I’m an exciting fighter,” he said. “I don’t plan on losing and I plan on finishing the fight.”

The fight takes place at the Amador County Fairgrounds, on Saturday Aug. 13, 7 p.m. The fairgrounds are located at 18621 Sherwood St, Plymouth, CA 95669. General seating is $45. For tickets call (530) 363-5894 or follow this link.

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