SHINE FIGHTS AGREES TO MULTI-FIGHT DEAL WITH TOP MIDDLEWEIGHT PROSPECT EDDIE ARIZMENDI, JR.
Debut Expected to Take Place in 2010

Miami, FL (USA): On the heels of an impressive first-round submission victory at Rage in the Cage 141, one of the sport’s most promising prospects has signed with upstart Shine Fight Promotions. Hailing from one of the most talent-rich regions of the country, 24 year-old Tuscon, Arizona native Eddie “Crazy Face” Arizmendi, Jr. (12-4, 6 sub, 4 KO) has been one of the most impressive local fighters over the past couple of years. His Shine debut is expected to take place later this year.

A staple in the Rage in the Cage organization, Arizmendi won the RITC middleweight title in 2008 and has yet to lose since earning the belt in an impressive three-round performance against Jose Cortez. Arizmendi has defended the title four times, defeating the likes of local fighter Tyler Brooks, King of the Cage veterans Leroy Fornoff and Philip Preece, as well as David Hulett. Most recently, Arizmendi stepped up to 210 pounds to face submission specialist Mike Moritz, easily defeating him via armbar in just over a minute. The impressive win brought his win streak to six, dating back to 2008. Arizmendi has also faced Ultimate Fighter 11 competitor Seth Baczynski, who is now his teammate at Tuscon’s rising Apex MMA gym under noted trainer Joey Rivera. Another teammate of Arizmendi, Lyle Steffens also competed on TUF 11.

Known for an aggressive, well-rounded fighting style that had led to an 83% finish rate, the 6’3”, 185-pound fighter has quickly become a hometown favorite with both fans and media members alike. One writer recently boasted, “Arizmendi finishes fights, and it’s always fun to watch.”

A standout quarterback in high school, Arizmendi received scholarship offers from UCLA and Colorado State University before deciding that college was not for him. Instead, he honed his athleticism in an MMA gym and became one of the most promising prospects in the sport today. Already an impressive fighter, Arizmendi is still just 24 years old with a multitude of time to grow into his body and mind as a fighter.

“I am really working on my submissions and my boxing. I’m really excited to have this chance [in Shine] and it will be fun,” Arizmendi said on signing his first major deal.

The young fighter joins a deep middleweight division in Shine, with tough fighters like Murilo “Ninja” Rua, Falaniko Vitale, Travis Galbraith, and Vitor Vianna flooding the landscape. But overwhelmed he is not: “I love to throw hands and I wanted to test myself,” he said regarding the Shine middleweight division.

Never the best-behaved youth on the streets of Tuscon, Arizmendi credits his strict Native American roots and background with staying out of trouble and becoming the man he is today: “My parents are my heroes,” he said. “It’s kind of boring here [in Tuscon]. It’s either play sports or get into trouble, and I was lucky my parents were on my ass.”