Froggy

Story by Joe Woods

The time is here! When you ask? May 5th 2017. Where? Ventura County Fairgrounds, Ventura Ca. the 805! Time? 6 p.m. What is it? Combate Americas M.M.A.! Who is fighting? Jose “Froggy” Estrada with a 3-0 record vs Emilio Chavez with an 11-9 record.

Jose “Froggy’’ Estrada is from Fillmore. This will be his fourth pro fight and his first one in Ventura County. To everyone who knows Jose they know him as Froggy. He got the name when he was playing football for The Fillmore Raiders youth football team, and it has been his name since then.

Now Froggy is fighting on the biggest stage in Combate Americas history. The Ventura Fairgrounds will be sold out with a lot of Froggy’s friends, family and fans. This young man is shooting up in the M.M.A. ranks as fast as you can take a shot of Patron on Cinco de Mayo. And that’s what some people will be doing this fight night in Ventura.

Froggy has been training for the last seven weeks. Cardio, kick boxing, boxing, diet and living in the gym, this is his life. This is his job, 24/7. “Combate Americas is giving me a chance to live my dream,” said Froggy, “This is my life. This is what I do. I am thankful for the chance I have.”

There are no days off. It’s road work and cardo for 2 hours and then about 5 hours in the gym working on his skills as a fighter. Diet is always on his mind. Froggy eats the right foods for him every day. On the day we talked he had a small piece of fish and a very small salad, and all the water he could drink. “I am on track to make weight. The diet is a huge part of my training,” said Froggy. I asked what food did he miss, and he said, “A Hamburger, a good one. But no more of that for me.”

Froggy is very proud to be fighting for the Combate Americas. “They all treat me great. They cover me on T.V. and social media. They fly me out to other fights and believe in me. Mr. Campbell McLaren is a big support to me. He thinks I can be the next big thing for Combate Americas.”

With the support of his teammate Michael Reyes, Coach Brian Espinosa and Coach Janik he cannot lose. “With my family, friends and Coaches I have all the support I need. And now add my Grandma, she will be there for her first pro fight.” “Her name is Teresa Ramos. Her and my grandfather ‘Tata’ who will be there in sprit have always been there for me. I will be thinking of them both when I come out to the ring.”

I asked Froggy what does Emilio Chavez bring to the fight? “He has a good kick to the head, I need to look out for that. And a lot of ring experience. But I will do what I need to do and fight my fight.”

I also asked him what is going through his mind when he walks down and to the ring? “Man, the roar of the crowd! It gets me going. There is no turning back and it is time to do what the Frog does! Time to take this guy out and win the fight!”

So Fillmore and the rest of the 805 get ready because The Frog is coming and there will be no holding him back. “I will be a World Champion! I want to do it for Combate Americas. I want it and nothing will get in my way. I will be the next big thing in the M.M.A. world! Look out Froggy is here and I am ready!”

Froggy would like to thank all of his Coaches, his family, his friends, and all the sponsors who support him. “Without my support team behind me I would not be here. And thank you Combate Americas for this chance, and I will not let anyone of you down. I will always work hard, and give it all I got in the cage.”

So now you know all the where’s, who’s, and what’s. It’s fight time and now it’s time to do what The Frog does. Happy Cinco de Mayo Ventura County. And enjoy the fight live or on T V and watch Fillmore’s own Jose “Froggy” Estrada become the next big thing.