First Ever MMA Competition On St. Croix Takes Place Saturday At The Sunshine Mall

ST. CROIX — Following the success of four major Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events in the territory, Mr. Rodriguez Promotions—owner of Paradise Fighting Championships—brings the first ever MMA fight to the island of St. Croix.

MMA in Paradise V will showcase the talents of competitors from St. Croix and Puerto Rico, on Saturday, April 1st, at the Sunshine Mall.

President of Mr. Rodriguez Promotions, Rigo Rodriguez says he hopes the showcase of local talent can be a testament to the territory’s youths and adults that instead of picking up a gun, they can pick up gloves and train, and receive the opportunity to compete in major sporting events like the UFC and Bellator Fighting Championships. He says this has been the purpose of his brand since its establishment in 2002.

“The purpose of our chapter brand, Paradise Fighting Championships, is to grant international major sporting events and also provide opportunities to our local talent to compete at the highest level in combat sports throughout the Caribbean, in the hopes that the two biggest mega combat sport companies like UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) and Bellator Fighting Championships will take notice of our local Caribbean Mixed Martial Arts talents,” said Mr. Rodriguez.

MMA is a fast-growing sport that incorporates various forms of interdisciplinary fighting such as jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing and wrestling, to defeat an opponent in a highly controlled and supervised match. Because of a loyal and continuously growing fan base, MMA in the Caribbean, Europe and other countries has flourished.

Paradise Fighting Championship has held various MMA events in the US Virgin Islands and the Caribbean. To date they have produced four events in the territory, with participants coming from across the Caribbean—Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, and many others—and countries like Poland, Canada, Greece, Germany and the mainland US.

The main event on Saturday will feature St Croix local Justitin C. Smith (Former NFL Superbowl linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneer) vs. Puerto Rican fighter Miguel Arce. Other events include a for the first time female fighters rematch between Lilliam Delgado vs. Kanisca Feliciano; Virgin Islands National Guardsman Mark Sinanan vs. Wade Rodriguez Kramar; National Guardsman Khalid Mattherws vs. Danny Vazquez from Puerto Rico, and more. There will also be a special guest match between Houston, Texas native Jeff Argon vs. Alberto Kevin Ramos from Penuelas Puerto Rico.

The event will be MC’s by Eddie Castillo and will feature special guests Davina Mar, the Diversity Bliz Dancers.