By CONSTANCIO MARTINEZ, JR.
Special to the PRESS
Texas Fight League (TFL) organization will be returning to South Padre Island on May 31st as they kick off their TFL4: Return to Padre mixed martial arts event. The event will take place at the South Padre Island Convention Center and will feature 15 fights. One of the main events will feature Fabian Granja versus Ian Gonzalez in the 145lb division.
In the co-main event, hometown fighter (2-1) Robert Maldonado will be taking on Samuel De Los Santos in the Featherweight bout. Maldonado, who is on a two-win fight streak, got his first taste as an amateur fighter in a split decision loss to Jackson Huber back in May 2024. Since then, he has gone on to beat Eduardo Flores via an armbar submission in July 2024 and Ian Gonzalez via a rear-naked choke in November 2024. He is currently ranked #44 in Amateur Featherweight rankings in Texas.
Maldonado harkened back to the beginning of his trek in the sport of MMA via his Facebook page, “A year ago today I decided to step in the cage and go to war and call myself an MMA fighter, this journey has been nothing but positivity in my life and showing me what actual hard work is compared to different sports. The emotions are everywhere, and mentality has to be super strong to step in the ring. The weight cutting, the bumps and bruises, there’s nothing I wouldn’t change. I’d do everything all over again and again and again cheers to the journey!” Stated Maldonado.
He continues to train at BKC JIU JITSU & Mixed Martial Arts in Port Isabel and Evo Kickboxing Academy in Brownsville. Always looking to test his skills, Maldonado won gold in a Muay Thai event held in Brownsville this past March.
TFL is coming off their “956 Takeover” MMA event, which was held this past March 2025. At that MMA event, another hometown product, flyweight Brayan Medina, picked up a win over Jairo Briones via a unanimous decision.
Tickets and VIP tables for sale at Eventbrite. Doors open at 6 p.m.. Fights start at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the TFL Ammy fight cards help fund the Evo Fight Special Needs program, which provides free training for special needs children.
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