We turn on the television awaiting our favorite fighters to perform for us, to entertain. We watch them pour their blood and sweat on the canvas to put on a show for us and to attain greatness in their own right, but how many of us take the time to think about where these men and women came from, or the effort it takes to get to where they are going? Recently I had a chance to sit down with a fighter who exemplifies those efforts to not only achieve the highest levels of the sport, but to become a better human being, and in doing so gives all of us a benchmark to follow. This fighter is Antonio “The Mexican Muscle” Castillo Jr.
Antonio Castillo Jr. is a professional, fighting out of Canton, Ohio with an impressive record of 10-4 (8-1 at 145 pounds). He has not only overcome adversity in the ring, but has also triumphed over hardships in his younger life to strive to be one of the best in the game. He will be fighting for the NAAFS Pro Series Bantamweight Title on October 4th. So fight fans, keep your eyes on the radar because “The Mexican Muscle” is about to be all over it!
Aaron Robbins: First off I want to say thank you very much for sitting and talking with me, I know your fans really appreciate it as well. Why don’t we start from the beginning and get some background on you, tell us where you’re from and how you got started in the game.
Antonio Castillo Jr: “Well I grew up in Perrysburg, Ohio which is pretty close to Toledo. I lived there until I was 24, and started fighting in 2008. I graduated from Perrysburg High School in 2005. I wrestled my whole high school career, I also played football and baseball, but I actually quit all other sports in my sophomore year and focused on my wrestling. Wrestling was what kept me out of trouble and kept me interested in school. I grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood, and I was getting into trouble in and out of school, and the wrestling season is the only time I got good grades and stayed out of trouble. I had a chance to go to college and wrestle for Ohio state, but I had other things going on in my life, I had my first daughter on the way and that sort of made my decision for me. So, I didn’t really look into wrestling in college, I did what I had to do to put food on the table and survive, some of the things weren’t the right things, but it was what I had to do at the time. I continued living that life and in 2006 I had my second daughter. It wasn’t until 2008 that I got into fighting. I got a phone call from my buddy, Dan Castillo, who wrestled at Cleveland State and he told me about 360 MMA in Toledo, he said there was a fight card coming up and they were looking fighters to fill the event. I more or less blew it off until he called me again and convinced me to check it out. Long story short, I went out to Toledo, trained for about 2 weeks and won my first fight by TKO. I fought my first 10 amateur fights in 11 months, went 10-0 and that’s when it really took off for me.”
AR: Wow, so one way or another, whether it be growing up in a bad neighborhood, wrestling, or fighting in the cage you have been overcoming adversity pretty much your whole life. Antonio, I’ve watched your fights and I have to say I’m very impressed. Tell us how you went from a pure wrestler with two weeks training, to the complete martial artist that you are now.
ACJ: “Well after my first four fights I did so well that I figured this must be what I’m supposed to be doing and even though I got good training at 360 MMA it wasn’t a complete gym, so I started working out at USA Martial Arts and began training under Mike Grey, that’s where I got my foundation in BJJ and striking. I was still kind of making some bad choices in my personal life and Mike took me under his wing and gave me the chance to really change my life for the better. I fought the rest of my amateur fights and my first pro fight with USA Martial Arts.”
AR: It sounds like Mike Grey was very influential in getting you heading in the right direction. Now, although you had a very successful amateur career it seems like the beginning of your professional career was a little rocky. Can you explain what was going on and how you turned it around for yourself?
ACJ: “The thing is I fought my first pro fights at 155 pounds, and that entire time I never sparred, we just hit pads and rolled. I never hit a fight camp and I never cut the weight that I should’ve been cutting. After my first pro fight I ended up leaving USA Martial Arts. I had three more fights lined up and lost all three of them, the last one I got knocked out for the first time in my life by Terry Blackwell. That’s really what changed my career. I had been talking back and forth with a matchmaker for the NAAFS named Nichole. She had been telling me that I needed to cut weight, and that I was too small to be fighting at 155. She also said that I needed to take my training more seriously and get out of the Toledo area if I was going to succeed in my career. After that knockout loss I knew I needed to listen to her. I moved to Canton, Ohio and actually trained at Victory MMA, Terry Blackwell’s gym, for a year and a half. After I arrived in Canton, I dropped to 145 and went 6-1 under their fight banner. I went up and out of their system and now my home camp is Strong Style MMA in Cleveland.”
AR: So it shows time and time again that you are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in MMA. Now I know you have made a lot of sacrifices, but you have also gained in so many ways as well. I’m sure most people don’t know this but, not only did you gain great training and a chance to make it to a higher level of the sport by leaving Toledo, you also gained a wife. Tell us about Nichole and how you guys are working together to reach the top of the MMA world.
ACJ: “Yeah for sure man, Nichole and I had been talking back and forth since 2009, and when I finally listened to her and got out of Toledo we developed our personal relationship and we ended up getting married. Once I got to the Canton area and was having so much success we decided to shop some other top level camps and that’s when I found Midwest Training Center in Chicago Illinois. The head coach over there is Alex Trujillo, he trains guys like Clay Guida and Chase Beebe. This guy really changed my entire outlook and vision in my MMA career. He closed all the gaps that I had to become a complete fighter. I learned that there is no off-season in MMA, it’s a lifestyle that you have to live 24/7. Since I’ve been at MTC my weight cuts have been phenomenal thanks to my Strength and Conditioning Coach, Dan Finnegan, and also my Nutritionist, Bobby Kaleal. They have made it possible for me to drop again and fight for the 135 pound title in October.”
AR: Antonio it sounds like moving out of Toledo, and listening to Nichole has been a saving grace in both your personal life and your career, that’s awesome. Now speaking of your next fight, tell us a little about that and what we can expect from you.
ACJ: “The event is called Rock-n-Rumble 8 and it’s at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. It’s going to be a huge event. It’s my first time at 135, I’m getting this fight because I’ve beaten the NAAFS’ top two contenders at 145 and I’m on a 5 fight winning streak. That gave me the opportunity to fight Brian Goldsby, he is a good polished fighter, but I don’t see anything special about him. He is good in a lot of areas, but I believe I am better in every category. Don’t get me wrong this is going to be a fight. We are going to get in there and treat each other like sh*t for 25 minutes, but I have no doubt that I’m leaving there with the belt.”
AR: Antonio with everything I have seen from you I have no doubt the NAAFS will have a new 135 pound champ after October 4th. I think that about does it for me. Before we wrap up here is there anyone you would like to thank?
ACJ: “Of course, I would like to thank my wife Nichole for everything she has done with and for me, my home camp Strong Style MMA, all the coaches and training partners at Midwest Training Center, I also want to give a shout to all my sponsors for showing me love and giving me so much support.”
Main Photo via NAASF and HexLinc
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