Robert “Tito” Rojas recently started attending Jiu-Jitsu class about 3 months ago. Robert used to train in Hastings at Hardknocks Gym. Then once he moved to Lincoln, he began training at Lincoln MMA. When Robert first started attending classes at Roseberry's, not many of the fellow students in our Jiu-Jitsu class were aware of Robert's MMA résumé. I knew that Robert had a very decorated amateur MMA career here in Nebraska, winning fights and championships in promotions like Tri-State Cagefighting. Just last year Robert made the jump from being an amateur mixed martial artist, to a professional. I knew that he had very good boxing skills and wrestling to back it up. Robert's first class at our dojo was the first time I had actually met him face to face. I was impressed with his very polite and humble attitude. It is an honorable thing when a fighter admits to a weakness in his game and seeks help to better himself in that area. That is what Robert did by coming to our dojo and attending Jiu-Jitsu.
During class, Robert was a very good student of the art. He had the three essential skills that martial artists should have; he had a positive attitude, a good work ethic and an open mind. Robert was like a sponge at every class. He soaked up the information being taught, and he did a great job of practicing it. Each class session you could see improvement in Robert's game, and his knowledge of the gentle art was increasing. Leading up to his fight last Friday night, Robert was not only hanging with the advanced students during open mat, but sometimes even submitting them.
This past Friday night, Robert was the Co-Main event at the Cornhusker Fight Club: “Seasons Beatings” event. He took on Joel Frandsen at a catch weight of 175 lbs. In the first round Robert demonstrated his very crisp boxing and great patience. He easily won the round by outstriking Frandsen. The second round was more of the same as Robert proved to be too technical with his striking, landing huge shots on Frandsen. There were a couple of minutes spent on the ground with Robert on top in half guard, using ground and pound to punish his opponent. There were a couple times where Robert saw the d’arce choke that he learned with us, but he did not commit to it. The third round began, Robert was clearly winning the fight, and everyone knew it. Frandsen began to shoot for takedowns as a desperation mode kicked in and he knew he had to change it up. Robert’s takedown defense was very good, using a quick sprawl. Midway through the round, Robert was on top of Frandsen in a turtle position and Robert began working his arm in position around Frandsen’s neck, looking for the d’arce choke. Robert was able to get his arm under, and he locked up the choke. He pulled him into position on his side and held the choke until Frandsen had no choice but to tap! The crowd erupted with cheers and Robert was the winner of a very dominate fight.
It was a proud moment to witness. After the fight Robert had the same attitude as the day he entered the dojo, he was polite and humble. Robert showed he is a well-rounded mixed martial artist, and he is a professional inside and outside of the cage.
David Kluthe
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