DIVING IN - Texas #3 Amateur Flyweight Smashing Into Pro Debut

NEW ORLEANS - A professional debut is perhaps the most important event in a fighter’s career. Every fight that follows must tread in the wake of that first bout, their reputation either petering out into a mere ripple, or growing into a titanic tsunami. At the 106th edition of Fury Fighting Championship, Jay Alderete will make his professional debut, and his excitement to dive in is palpable. On the latest edition of Clear Life Media’s Clear Life Combat podcast with Gardy Garcia, Alderete provided some insight on his amateur fights, and some hopes for his oncoming professional career.

“I’ve been doing this all my life,” said Alderete. “You see a lot of guys, who- they’ve been training for a couple of years, and then they go pro. And it doesn’t go well for them- I’m sure some people are thinking that about me. But you know, I’ve been doing this since I was four, so I’ve been ready for that next step.”

Alderete’s certainty in his debut is backed up by some impressive results. As an amateur, he has accrued a record of 4 wins with no losses, and against some remarkable opponents. He boasts wins over Alan Gonzalez, a now 5-1 fighter coached by Cameron Graves, and La’Stot Pleasant, a now 3-2 fighter who won his very next bout after his loss to Alderete, in only a single round.

“To be honest, if you see my fights, I walk through everyone,” said Alderete. “I would say I had good fights on my end, but I never had a back-and-forth, or an opponent who can test me. And I was fighting good guys… that’s how I know it’s my time.”

His debut opponent is no slouch himself. His opponent is the #14 Featherweight of Louisiana, Donzeill Marshall. Marshall’s professional record is 2-3, with his most recent fight at Melee Combat Championship #3 from last August. Fighting an opponent with such a similar history in an unfamiliar state might be intimidating, but Alderete remains unfazed.

“As an early-on professional, you gotta be ready for anything,” said Alderete. “You gotta be ready for that call. You gotta be ready for anytime, anywhere, anyone.”

And besides, Louisiana is hardly the most exotic place Alderete has been while expanding his professional horizons; “I went to Thailand,” said Alderete. “Got some good training from the Hickman Brothers and some of the Thai coaches. I’m blessed to get that experience.” 

More interesting than his professional career, however, is that his amateur career reflects that of Alderete. Marshall was an extremely dominant fighter in his amateur circuit, and boasted a record of 7-0 in a three-year-long amateur stint before moving on to the professional world. Alderete’s first obstacle in his professional career will not be one so easily overcome, but he remains steadfast in his determination, and confident he’ll be able to find a finish.

“I know he likes to brawl. He’s got some heavy hands- well, he thinks he has heavy hands. I’m about to just get out of the way, touch him up, and look for a finish,” said Alderete. “If I hit [an opponent], I’m going to go for the kill every time. I’m going to try to finish them every time. That’s that.”

Fury Fighting Championship 106 will take place on Friday, July 18th, 2025, and can be viewed on UFC Fight Pass, or in-person at the Alario Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. Get your tickets at https://www.furyfc.tv/tickets/