SOCORRO, New Mexico (STPNS) -- Five athletes will represent Socorro in a cage Saturday, Dec. 20, as Que Loco Cage Fighting presents ?Respect? at the Socorro National Guard armory.

There are 10 mixed-martial arts cage fights on the card, which is subject to change. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the first fight is set for 7 p.m.

The featured bout is Dickie Chavez, a 1990 graduate of Socorro High School, against Freddie Sandoval of Albuquerque.

Chavez and Sandoval will face off in a middleweight, 185-pound cage fight, the only professional bout on the card.



?I?ve been wanting to fight this guy for over two years now,? Chavez said of his opponent. ?He?s really arrogant and he talks a lot. I?m looking forward to it.?

Chavez trains with Jackson?s Gym in Albuquerque, where he currently resides. Sandoval, who is several years younger than Chavez, trains with his family?s Sandoval Fighting Systems.

Chavez, who went pro about two and a half years ago, has a 9-3 record during that time. He has been involved in the sport for four years, taking it up in his adult life after being a wrestler for Socorro High.

?I want to make it as far as I can (in the sport of MMA),? Chavez said. ?I?m getting older, but I?m still in really good health.?

Other athletes who are listed on the fight card are Eric Saavedra, Sammy Garcia, Sam Collopy, Paul Gonzalez, Isaiah Reyes, Onecimo Mirabal, Louie Melendez, Mike Meir, Juan Reyes, Richard Jacquez, Joel Owens, Otto Sandoval, Anthony Session, Nate Morrison and Fabian Quevado.

Chavez said he has trained with some big-name MMA fighters, including Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champion Georges St.-Pierre. He said he is hoping to get one of those fighters to appear in Socorro, but isn?t sure yet if that will happen.

Chavez said many of his friends are fighters, which is one of the reasons he was drawn to MMA in the first place. He said he deals with the business and promotional aspects of cage fighting, as well as match making for larger fights in Albuquerque for Duke City Brawl, in addition to being a fighter.

?This is a small cage fight for me, but I?m doing it because it?s in Socorro,? he said.

Chavez said the growing popularity of MMA in New Mexico is good for the youth, because it provides opportunity and a way to stay out of trouble. He said Socorroans have been supportive of his efforts to bring cage fights to town.

?I want to thank all my sponsors from Socorro,? Chavez said. ?I?ve gotten a lot of good support from the people of Socorro. If I ever make it big, I will never forget where I came from.?

Tickets ? $25 general admission and $35 ringside ? are available at Simple Solutions, next to Dominos in the Adobe Plaza.