San Angelo MMA Fighter Battles In And Of The Octagon

SAN ANGELO, TX - Up and coming San Angelo MMA fighter Gavin Ceniseros is 1-0 following his first recent amateur fight, but it's been the many battles that have given meaning to his young MMA career. 

"This is my dream this is what I do every day," said Ceniseros. "I want to be at the top of the UFC grinding. I want the world to know who I am."

The 17-year-old fighter was introduced to MMA after years of training in Taekwondo, but following a brief lapse from the gym in which Ceniseros found a different life on the streets, he realized a change had to made in his life.

"Growing up I lived with my mom for 11 years then my dad came home and I moved with him because my mom was messing up. She had a really bad addiction," said "Ceniseros. "What really made me come back to the gym was when I was 14 and I wasn't making the smartest choices in life. The mistakes I made was that I was always getting in trouble with my cousins. They would show me how to do this and show me how to do that, and I just followed."

WATCH: Gavin Ceniseros:

Since making his way back to the gym Ceniseros has intensified his training.

"When he first started training he was just a kickboxer," said Angelo MMA coach Henry Candela. "We started working on his hands, hand combinations, and boxing combinations. Overall I've taught him somethings, but he's the one that's put in the hard work."

Ceniseros attributes his achievements to Angelo MMA coaches Karla Cardenas and Henry Candela. Two people that have guided the young fighter into what he is today.

"My relationship with coach Henry and coach Karla, I love them like their my parents," said Ceniseros. "They've taught me a lot and they've done a lot for me and I thank them very much."

Gavin's first amateur fight was back in February in Victoria in which he won by unanimous decision. Now that Gavin has his first win under his belt he has a plan.

"The goal I want to achieve as an amateur I want to go 5-0," said Ceniseros. "Those first four fights I'll fight whoever they give me, but after that fourth fight, I want to call out the champion and fight him and win that amateur belt. After that I want to sign up for pro. That's my main goal."