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Tubera claims title
Central Valley grad wins by first-round submission
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Mike Tubera delighted his hometown fans by winning the 125-pound flyweight title at the California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization War Fighting Championship on Saturday in Modesto. - photo by Contributed to the Courier

Fighting for just the second time since suffering life-threatening injuries during a dirt-bike accident in 2015, Central Valley High School grad Mike Tubera delighted his hometown crowd with a first-round submission victory over Merced's Michael Alonzo.

Mike claimed the 125-pound flyweight title at the California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO) War Fighting Championship Saturday night at Modesto Centre Plaza.

Tubera needed just 36 seconds to stop Alonzo with a guillotine choke.

"He tried taking me down and jumped right into it," Mike said. "I was holding it and exploring my options. I didn't want to end it so fast. I wanted to put on a show."
Tubera improved his CAMO record to 2-3.

Alonzo dropped to 3-2.

"Everybody had high hopes for me," Tubera said. "There was a lot of pressure. I couldn't disappoint."

The CAMO promotion featured a total of eight fights with Tubera and Alozno as co-headliners.

Mike had more than 80 supporters in attendance, including family, friends and fellow Dynamic MMA members.

"This is the only fight I've had in my hometown," he said. "It was unreal walking out to the cage. I've never heard the crowd roar that loud for me. I felt confident everything was going to work in my favor."

Tubera snapped a two-match losing streak.

Mike lost by split decision to Napa's Jaime Mora Munoz at 559 Fights 50 in September of 2016.

"There was a lot at stake for me," Tubera said. "I lost my last fight. This was my redemption. To be at the top of my game, it feels great."

Tubera and Los Angeles' Christopher Cruz (2-5) were supposed to fight for the flyweight title this past weekend.

Cruz was dropped from the card for unspecified reasons.

"Regardless of who the opponent was, I was going to fight on this card," Tubera said. "It was in my hometown. I hyped it up so much. It was anticipated for so long."

Mike might fight on the 209 Beatdown IV card this January in Stockton.

"I'm a competitor," Tubera said. "This is what I love to do."