MMA

Fan Favorite Rosario Living His Lifelong Dream

Fight Network Staff / November 19, 2012 - 4:48pm

Want to know why Bloomfield, New Jersey's undefeated Fabian "The Baby Face Killer" Rosario (5-0) is so popular an MMA fighter?

It's the authenticity of watching someone doing what they were born to do.

20-year-old Rosario says he doesn't remember a time when he didn't want to be a fighter. "I've been doing martial arts since I was five or so. When I was younger I wanted to be a boxer, but then when I was nine, I watched MMA for the first time. As soon as I saw it, I said THAT'S what I want to do!"

And so, ever since that fateful day, Rosario has been training for the chance to do exactly what he's doing: tearing through opponents as a promising MMA fighter.

The young fan favorite will have nearly 200 supporters watching when he puts his spotless record on the line against 30-year-old Cicero Almeida for the EFC Welterweight Championship Saturday, November 24, on promoter Hani Darwish's EFC 5 "Undisputed" event at the Police Athletic League Hall of Parsippany, New Jersey.

EFC 5 "Undisputed" will feature EFC Heavyweight Champion Gil "Blackout" Isabel of New Jersey making his first title defense in the main event.

Rosario says he knows Almeida is a "really tough" and a capable striker and has been working extra hard at his home base of Guerrero Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Caldwell, New Jersey, with boxing coach Robert Guzman to prepare.

I have a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and my submissions are very strong, so I've been training a lot with striking to even out my skill set. I want to take fighting as far as I can go with it."

I think Fabian is a good kid who represents himself very well," said promoter Hani Darwish. "I've seen him since he was a high school wrestler where he was very dominant. I respect him and his coach Johnny Guerrero. His opponent, Almeida comes from a camp of really tough guys too. They obviously wouldn't have accepted the fight against a kid of this caliber if they didn't think their guy was extremely good. It's going to be a sensational fight between these two."

When not preparing himself, Rosario instructs youngsters and beginner adults in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and says he tries to set an example at all times.

"I want to teach my students that MMA is not just about two guys beating each other up. It's about having good character. I want to be a good role model and train hard and not just show how tough I am, but about how being disciplined pays off. It's about respect and being humble and discipline. My biggest goal as an instructor is to pass that onto the kids I teach."

This won't be Rosario's first time fighting for the EFC and he says he's excited about the opportunity.

"I had a good experience fighting for Hani Darwish. Everything was well run. The production is very organized and well done. His EFC organization is very well known and respected and his shows have a great atmosphere. There are always a lot of people there. I like fighting in Jersey because I'm pretty much home. I can get a lot of people there to support me."

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$5 from every ticket sold to EFC 5 "Undisputed" will be donated to The Community FoodBank of New Jersey to help those in need after Hurricane Sandy ravaged the state.

Those wishing to purchase tickets are recommended to do so as soon as possible by visiting Extreme Fight Club (10 Squirrelwood Road Woodland Park, NJ), online at www.efcmma.com or by phone 973.653.5449. The remaining seats are priced at General Admission (Standing Room Only): $35.00; General Admission Seating: $45; Cage Side Seating: $65; and VIP: $100.

On fight night, doors open at 6 pm and the first bout is at 7. The Police Athletic League of Parsippany is located at 33 Baldwin Road in Parsippany.

About Extreme Fighting Championship:

Extreme Fighting Championship is owned and operated by CEO Hani Darwish.

Darwish has achieved a great amount of success in the fight game, as the founder of premier mixed-martial-arts facility, Extreme Fight Club, in Woodland Park, New Jersey, and, before that, half of the well-known fight promoting duo "The Darwish Brothers Knockout Promotions".

37-year-old Darwish found his way to combat sports starting in childhood when he began training with his four brothers under the direction of their father, a long-time veteran in mixed martial arts. He went on to win over 100 grappling tournaments and also attributes some of his success to his private training under John Monaco, a three-time Division III All-American at Montclair State and perennial Greco-Roman Olympian wrestler, Momir Petkovic (1x Gold, 3x Silver, 1x Bronze), current coach of the USA Olympic Greco Roman wrestling team.

Darwish has studied in numerous styles of fighting and has an extensive background in Boxing, Submission/Freestyle/Greco Roman Wrestling, Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Kung-Fu, Muay Thai, Freestyle Fighting and mixed martial arts.

Along with his older brother Wally, Darwish promoted boxing cards in New Jersey from 2003-2009 (under the name The Darwish Brothers, Knockout Promotions) and also managed some high-profile boxers including 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist and WBA Junior Middleweight Champion David Reid and six-time super middleweight challenger Omar Sheika. He transitioned to full-time MMA and opened Extreme Fight Club in September 2009.

With such a wealth of knowledge and experience in the combat sports, Darwish is well known as one of the elite trainers in the New Jersey area, a hotbed for MMA.

With so many talented young fighters under his guidance at EFC Gym, Darwish says it was a natural progression to begin promoting events, so that he could test his fighters' skills inside the cage. Under the name Extreme Fighting Championship, Darwish promoted two sold-out shows in 2011 and two more, so far, in 2012.

The EFC organization has quickly established itself as the ultimate proving ground for young fighters whose drive to become the best meant they needed to face the best and EFC events have become the premier showcases for MMA in the Garden State.

Darwish also runs anti-bullying seminars at his gym and at schools in North Jersey.

For more information on Hani Darwish or the EFC organization, log onto www.EFCMMA.com.