For Eddy Torres, winning CFFC title about fulfilling a promise, but the hard work is just starting
Fighting is very much in Eddy Torres' blood. It was his mother, herself an avid boxer, who first taught him 'the sweet science' while growing up in Puerto Rico. His uncle was an accomplished boxer, as well.
Torres grew up with dreams of playing professional baseball, but it was martial arts where Torres most excelled. From boxing, it was on to taekwondo. After that, muay Thai. Torres mixed in a little bit of judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, as well.
"I started fighting muay Thai and had a few fights, and I even traveled to China and everything," Torres said. "But I met Jonavin Webb and Sean Brady, and they were like, 'Oh man, you've got to put your judo and jiu-jitsu to work and try some MMA fights.' I tried, and it's been great ever since. Now I'm, like, in love with MMA because I get to use all my weapons."
Torres became known as "The Taino Warrior," a nod to his ancestral roots with the indigenous tribes of the Caribbean. He made his professional debut in 2019, scoring a first round submission win at CFFC 74.
MMA became such a passion that Torres elected to open his own gym in New Jersey, Team Taino Martial Arts & Fitness. It was a labor of love, but one that took his full attention, especially when the ongoing global pandemic began to impact industries around the globe.
"They shut my business down," Torres said. "I was trying to keep my business afloat. It was a hard time during COVID."
It would be 14 months before Torres would take his second professional fight, scoring another first-round submission win at CFFC 85, and relaunching his career in full. He's since added victories over Jake Schilling and Yohe Rojas, with those results coming in the CFFC cage, as well.
"Once Rob Haydak was like, 'Hey, man, we're about to start fighting again,' I said, 'OK, I'm all in,'" Torres said.
As a member of the rapidly expanding Daniel Gracie Team, Torres (4-0) has thrived under the CFFC banner, and on Friday, he'll headline his first event for the promotion, taking on another undefeated prospect in Blake Bilder (4-0-1).
The two compete for the vacant featherweight title in the main event of "CFFC 104: Torres vs. Bilder," which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in New Jersey.
It's a big moment in Torres' career, but one he says he's taking in stride.
"I feel great," Torres said. "In my head, I know the main event is important, that the title is important, but for me, it's just going in there and improving every day and making sure that I'm better than I was my last fight. I don't take it any different than I take any other fight. I mean, it's important because it's the CFFC title, and one of my first interviews I ever did when I first turned pro, I said I was going to become the 145-pound champ, and now I'm going to do it."
While Torres has competed his entire professional career under the CFFC banner, he'll face a promotional newcomer in Bilder. Torres said he let his coaches handle the scouting and gameplanning, but he knows he's facing a legitimate title contender.
"In my head, I'm fighting the best in the world," Torres said. "Every time I get an opponent, in my head, I'm fighting the best in the world, and I've got to train like I'm fighting the best in the world. That's how I'm going to this fight.
"All respect to this man who took a fight that a lot of people didn't want to take, but we're going to get into a scrap. I've been training like he's the best in the world, and I hope he's doing the same because it's a new me, and I feel like this is the best I've ever looked. All my coaches are telling me that, and my confidence is great. I feel great, man."
Torres has been with CFFC long enough to know that champions are quick to get looks from the sport's biggest promotions, including the UFC. Torres believes he's capable of being successful at that level, as well, and he'll go as far down as bantamweight and as high as welterweight to make it happen. However, whether the call comes or not, he says his commitment to improvement won't change.
"Every fighter's dream is to fight for the UFC – that's a given," Torres said. "The opportunity arises, man, I'll fight at 170, 155, 145, 135. Dana White calls me right now and says I have to fight Khamzat Chimaev, I'll go fight him just for that contract. I don't care. But the thing is, you know, I'm never the one to be like, 'Oh, I deserve to be in the UFC,' and all that crazy stuff. I feel like you don't deserve anything you don't work hard for. I'm going to just continue to work hard."
With a lifetime of training to his name, Torres knows the things he can't control and doesn't waste any energy on them. If the call is going to come, it's going to come. Right now, the focus is on remaining undefeated and claiming the CFFC featherweight title, and Torres plans on fulfilling that promise he made and honoring those that have helped him to this point.
"Honestly speaking, every time I get ready to fight, I always think I'm gearing up for war," Torres said. "Whatever he brings to the table, I'll have an answer to it. I'm ready for war, man."
