After His Victory 3-12-11

By: J. Rios

By Richard Raciti

www.submissionfightingUSA.com

Local fighter wins an MMA championship

Justin Rios, 21, of Saddle Brook, fought his third amateur MMA bout on July 10 and improved his record to 3-0. Rios fought Noel “The Filipino Warrior” Arcibal for the MMA Bantamweight Title and soundly defeated him in the first round by way of submission. Upon administering an arm bar, Arcibal tapped out 46 seconds into the contest.

Rios has been practicing mixed martial arts for 18 years. He is a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 4th degree black belt in Sil Jun Do and a 3 striped Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Rios is also highly trained in boxing, Muay Thai and other various disciplines of mixed martial arts.

Outside of the ring, Rios spends his time as the director of the kids program at The Edge Ultimate Martial Arts Academy in Saddle Brook In addition to his fighting skills, Rios is currently majoring in philosophy at William Paterson University.

E-mail: liebowitz@northjersey.com

Justin Rios locking in a submission in the co-main event to win the Bantanweight title

Amateur MMA–NJ Style
By Gan on Jul 11, 2010 at 8:08am

If you were looking for bright lights and A-level production, you probably would have left disappointed.  If you were looking for big names, tough shit.  If you were looking for crazy fight records, yeah, not so much.  Most fighters came in sporting records of 1-0, 1-1. or even 0-1.  Celebrities in the crowd?  Negative.  But if you were looking for action, crowd energy, and some true fighting spirit, you came to the right place. 

Last night at Club Abyss in Sayerville, NJ amateur promotion Evolution MMA put on a stellar fourteen fight card rife with local talent.  Matt and I attended to support one of his training partners and ended up loving the entire show.  The crowd was fantastic, filled with passionate, knowledgeable fans who didn’t immediately start booing once the action hit the mat.  UFC fans could learn a thing or two.  The fighters were hungry and whether they walked away in victory or defeat, left it all in that cage.  The star ring girl had a big booty and a wonderfully abundant bosom.  And the beers were only $3 each, which was an important element of the event.  The last UFC event I attended I could have bought myself a jacuzzi for what I spent on beer.  Nice to see the smaller shows keepin’ it real.

Every fighter deserves respect for the performances they put on last night, but one in particular stole the show.  Saddle Brook native Justin Rios submitted Noel Arcibal in the first round of the co-main event to win the Bantanweight title.  Justin is a 21 year old philosophy major who trains out of The Edge gym in Saddle Brook.  His W last night puts him at 3-0 as an amateur.  With a couple of black belts hanging on his wall already, and a sweet looking submission game that is rapidly improving, Justin is someone to watch out for.  Justin plans on attending law school after he earns his undergraduate degree, but if he chooses to stay active in the fight game, look out. 

Congratulations from all of us here at CageChatter Justin, great job!

 Thursday, July 1, 2010  

 BY BRAD LEIBOWITZ 

 Community News (Elmwood Park Edition)

 STAFF WRITER

  While you may not think of philosophy majors as ferocious, one up-and-coming fighter is changing all of that.

 On July 10, mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Justin Rios, 21, will take on Noel “The Filipino Warrior” Arcibal for the MMA Bantamweight Title.

 Rios, a Saddle Brook native who has been practicing mixed martial arts from the young age of 3, is a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 4th degree black belt in Sil Jun Do, and a 3 striped Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Rios is also highly trained in boxing, Muay Thai and other disciplines of mixed martial arts. In 2009, Rios was awarded with the honor of being the black belt fighter of the year.

 Rios’s involvement with mixed martial arts stems from his family. According to his father, Anthony, MMA has been a large staple of the Rios family ever since Anthony took it up in his youth. Although he still trains and takes advice from his father, Justin is a student of Master Richard Raciti at the Edge Ultimate Martial Arts Academy in Saddle Brook.

 His record currently stands at 2 and 0 in amateur fights.

 When he is not fighting, Rios spends his time as the director of the kids program at The Edge Ultimate Martial Arts Academy.

 Rios attended Seton Hall University as a philosophy major for his freshman year of college. He is now enrolled at William Paterson University where he is still majoring in philosophy. Rios said he transferred to be closer to home and his training camp. After he graduates from William Paterson, where he currently maintains a 3.4 GPA, Rios stated he plans on going to law school.

 When asked about why a philosophy major would want to take up MMA fighting, Rios said, “It’s something I have always been doing. In a weird way philosophy and martial arts are one in the same. Both disciplines try to educate you about the importance of finding who you are – your center. Whereas philosophy might teach me how to determine a moral right or wrong eventually leading me to a self discovery about who I am, martial arts continues to teach me the importance of being in touch with my body and knowing how and when or when not to use it forcefully.”

 Raciti, who has trained Rios for the past 10 years, believes his student is one of the most gifted fighters he has ever seen.

 “What makes him so good are his instincts,” Raciti said. “Sure, he has speed and agility and power and eye hand coordination, he has all the things that make for a good fighter, but overall his instincts are what set him apart. No matter the situation, Justin knows himself enough to encounter a situation, diagnose it and then react accordingly.”

 The fight will take place at the Evolution MMA III July Bash at Club Abyss in Sayreville. The event begins at 5 p.m. on July 10. Visit www.submissionfightingUSA.com.

Rios to compete for the MMA Bantamweight Title at the Evolution MMA III July Bash 

  Thursday, July 8, 2010 

  TRI-STATE TODAY 

  On Saturday, July 10, Justin Rios, son of Saddle Brook’s Millie Rios, will face Noel “The Filipino Warrior” Arcibal for the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Bantamweight Title at the Evolution MMA III July Bash at Club Abyss in Sayreville, NJ. Justin, who has been practicing mixed martial arts since he was 3, is a 2nd degree black belt in Taekwondo, a 4th degree black belt in Sil Jun Do, and a 3-striped blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As a student of Master Richard Raciti at the Edge Ultimate Martial Arts Academy in Saddle Brook, NJ, his record stands at 2-0 in amateur fights. Justin is also currently enrolled at William Paterson University, where he is studying philosophy. “ In a weird way philosophy and martial arts are one and the same. Both disciplines try to educate you about the importance of finding who you are—your center,” Justin said. Read above to read the full article about Justin that recently ran in The Community News. Good Luck, Justin!