Yes Fillmore, he did it again. Frank “Turtle” Estrada is still the 145 pound Combat Fighting League M.M.A. Champion!

Last Friday night at the Woodland Hills Marriot “Turtle” put his title on the line against a very game fighter named Jose Medina out of the Adrenline M.M.A. Gym.

“He was the toughest guy I have faced yet,” said ‘’Turtle”. “He would not give up. He had a lot of heart.”

Medina came in the fight weighing 143 pounds. “Turtle” came in at 144.4 pounds. By fight time he was at 151 pounds and ready to go.

Medina has a wrestling background. “He was scrappy.” said “Turtle”. “He was hard to catch. He had good stand up skills. I knew then I was in for a war.”

While waiting for the fight to start “Turtle” was focused on what had to be done for another victory to come his way. “I was ready to go. I trained hard and this was going to be my reward for it all” said the young fighter. “I did not come in too hyped. I knew this was going to be tough.”

As always when “Turtle” fights he has a huge Fillmore crowd to root him on. This was the case Friday night. “I love the fans from Fillmore. They are always behind me. Thanks for the support. ‘When I hear them it gets me pumped.”

First of three, two minute rounds got off to a quick start. The two fighters started in the stand up position. Then “Turtle” started to pin Medina to the cage. When he got him where he wanted him, he got a few good punches in on him. “I wanted to overwhelm him. But he was scrappy. I think I won the first round,” said “Turtle”.

When the second round started “Turtle” said he felt more confidence. “I was more aggressive then he was in the first round, I was ready to go.” The round started about the same. But about half way through “Turtle” was
on one knee on the mat when Medina gave him a illegal knee to the face. “He got me under my eye. After the Ref called a time out, I got my senses back,” said “Turtle”. The Referee took a point away for Medina. Then “Turtle”
came back aggressive. “I said okay let’s do this!” Medina stayed away most rest of the round. Then it was onto no-mans-land for the kid from Fillmore. He has never gone to the third round before. He has never gone the
distance.

‘’I knew when they took the point away from him, I took the round. This was new water for me so I took some deep breaths in the corner and listen to my Coaches.”

He said he thought he was in better shape than Medina, so he stuck with his game plan--be aggressive and pin him to the cage so he could get some good in close punches on him.

“He never hurt me in the fight. When the bell rang I knew I won the fight. But it was a war!”

The pro-”Turtle” crowd went crazy after the ring announcer said that he won the fight. “I shook my opponents hand, then took a little victory lap around the cage.” After some hugs and high fives from family, friends,
teammates, and fans, “Turtle” found out this was going to be his last Title Fight. He will leave the amateur iang, and head into the Pros.

“The announcement was made. I will have my first Pro Fight sometime early in 2012. This is what I have always wanted. It is not a dream, but the next step for me. I plan in the future to go after more titles.”

‘’Turtle” wanted to thank his coaches at Cazadores Boxing and M.M.A., and West Coast Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai, and M.M.A., Brain Espinosa, Jamie Toney, Fredo Lemus, “Grandpa” John Hernandez, and Jay Scratch. Also his teammates, his brother Jose “Froggy” Estrada, Jesus Garcia, who won Friday night, David Tubb, the new 170 pound C.F.L. Champion, Joel Tinkard, Mose Aiti, and Justin Rodriguez.

And he could not have done any of this without his sponsors. The Lab, Sugerbeets and Iron Horse Bar and Grill in
Oxnard, Killer Bees Fight Shop, Pacific Property Painting, Tin Engery.com., E.Q. Fresh Cuts, and Color By Yayo Tattoos.

When I asked this young man if he had anything else to say to Fillmore, he said, “I just want to thank all the sponsors that make it possible for me to fight. And to the people of Fillmore, thank you for always coming to my fights.

Without roots like the ones I have in Fillmore, there is no base to stand on. Thank you!”