Bertos Fighting Family Make History at RFC XIII

Posted on | July 15, 2008 | 2 Comments

For Immediate Release
By Nancy Evans – FightZone Media
July 12, 2008 Tampa, FL

Fight History was made in Tampa, FL as the First Family of Fighting Champions, the Bertos from Winter Haven, FL added yet another fighter to their family legacy…..

Revelina “Nana” Berto won her Pro MMA debut at Real Fighting Championships’ (RFC) XIII “Title Bound” at the A La Carte Pavilion in Tampa, FL on Friday, July 11th.

Nana is the daughter of legendary Trainer and former fighter, Dieuseul “Tiger” Berto and sister to Undefeated WBC Welterweight Boxing Champion Andre Berto (22-0, 18 KOs), RFC MMA Lightweight Champion Edson “Little Tiger” Berto, and Cleveland Berto, the former Florida Wrestling Champion.

Andre and Edson also made Fight History last year becoming the first brother team to ever have their fights televised nationally on the same night – Andre in New York On HBO Boxing and an hour later Edson on Showtime fighting for EliteXC in California.

RFC Matchmaker Joe Valdez paired Nana against Jessica Bednark, an IFL Kickboxing veteran. Nana’s victory came via squeezing the air out of her opponent like a giant anaconda. Submission via front choke is the “official” term from the Battlebase network coming at 2:36 in the first round.

Of course the whole Berto clan ringside and Tiger’s World of Martial Arts’ J. Lee and students who were there to support Nana went berserk along with the entire partisan sold out crowd.

The Bertos

Edson, Cleveland, Nana, Dieuseul, Andre & Tiger’s Worlds’ J. Lee

And as usual at an RFC Event the audience was packed with sports celebrities such as Shaquille O’Neal (there to support his Gracie Orlando Team); WEC bantamweight champion, Miguel Torres; Kickboxing Legend Olando Rivera; Pro Boxer (and now movie star). Jeff Lacy; UFC TUF’s Matt Arroyo, RFC, IFL veteran Chris Baten, Carlos “Rooster” Gonzalez; and of course Fight Zone’s own Jay Adams and Nancy Evans.

Proud papa Dieuseul Berto was seen smiling from ear to ear the rest of the night.

Congratulations to Nana and also Andre who now holds the belt vacated by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and to the entire Berto family on their hard work and contribution to the sport.

FightZone is proud to have been part of this memorable night and wish the Bertos continued success as well as RFC Promoter Jason Freyre, Matchmaker Joe Valdez and Executive Administrator Denise Oldham, who every time out continue to set the standard for MMA live events.

Visit FightZone’s Photo Galleries at www.FightZone.TV to see all the action from RFC “Title Bound” as well as over 30,000 other fight photos.

Previous FightZone Article on the Berto’s History published 05/2007:

The Family of Fighting Champions-The Berto’s By Nancy Evans

Tiger’s World of Martial Arts, located in Winter Haven, FL, is the home of the World famous “Family of Fighting Champions,” the “Berto’s.”

Father Dieuseul “Tiger” Berto, is a former “Pride” fighter and “Pride” Judge, who trains at his “Tiger’s World” facility with his sons, James “Edson” Berto, the very first RFC MMA Lightweight Title Belt holder, Undefeated Pro Boxer and former 2004 Olympian Boxer Andre Berto, and Cleveland Berto, the State Wrestling Champion of Florida, who also managed to place second as National Wrestling Champion.

Just one Champion in a family would be something, but to have so many, is almost unheard of today.

So to what does this Family of Fighting Champions attribute their great achievements? Believe it or not, an accident…some would call it a tragedy…or was it?

Father “Tiger” Dieuseul Berto was well known as a “Pride” fighter in Japan, Japan Ring Wars, and the UFC Battle of Atlanta, and did plenty of MMA/NHB until he almost died in a serious car wreck about seven years ago. He was in a coma for several months, and not expected to live, even to the point that the Doctors had his wife make his funeral arrangements for him. Now, that’s as close to death as you can get.

But, what the Doctors didn’t know is that this is one tough hombre. Tiger may have lost a round, but he wasn’t out of this fight, not just yet. And, fight he did! Not only to stay alive, but to live his life with his family!

Then, when Berto came out of his coma, they said he wouldn’t walk or talk again. That’s when Berto did what he did best. He fought-once more-to prove the Doctors wrong, and, he fought through the excruciating pain that came with each and every step he took as he learned how to walk, talk, and feed himself again. Things once taken for granted were now daily triumphs.

Berto told me that this accident was the best thing that happened to him, and he made “lemonade” out of lemons. He said that this was a “mental” fight for him, and he now had a focus and a goal, and realized he could do anything.

Seeing his children grow up and “make it to the top” was the inspiration that kept him going, and they have indeed been successful!

Berto said “he no longer wastes time on ‘useless things’ that don’t matter.” He works harder, and feels he’s a better husband, father, teacher and trainer, and that the positive change in him has also changed others.

Tiger also said “that before the accident his family always went to Church, but that since the accident, they all realize that God has a plan for them. God comes first in whatever they do.” He credits his wife with being the driving force of faith in their home, and he and his sons do ministry at their Church and counsel other kids as well.

James “Edson” Berto, the eldest son, and his dad both have the same goal. To see him become a Champion in the next couple of years. Edson told us last year to keep your eye on him, and since them, he has won the RFC (Real Fighting Championships) Lightweight Title Belt at the Sun Dome in Tampa, Fl and several EliteXC nationally televised fights.

Edson is such an athlete, and so talented, that he was also at one time a Professional soccer player for several years while living in Haiti. Like father, like son. Dad Dieuseul also used to play professional soccer.

Edson has about 6 years of Karate training, and prefers the Muay Thai style of stand up fighting, but, I can assure you, his ground work is just fine, and his fans have seen him win both standing up and down on the ground, no problema.

If he is standing, watch out for his devastating leg kicks to his opponents-he chops them down to the mat like he’s wielding an ax!

Edson trains extremely hard, six days a week, with his dad, Berto, and his boxing brother Andre, doing MMA, boxing, sprints, plenty of stretching exercises, and just to round things out, some weightlifting. He has also been training with Ross Kellin and Ralph Garcia of Team High Performance/World Class Martial Arts.

In the MMA world, I have never seen such a close bond, even between teams who will fight each other. They will train together, and even cover each others corners if needed. It’s remarkable. (But once they are in the ring or the cage, it’s a different story-it’s all business.)

When Edson’s not fighting, he likes to watch both the MMA fights or boxing, or be at Church with his family.

In addition, dad Dieuseul Berto has always wanted to have a Doctor in the family, and he would like to see Edson become the family “Doc” besides being a “MMA Champion.” I’d say that Edson has been working especially hard for the past year, and his results has been astounding, to say the least. Just give him a few more years and this young man will be off the charts!

His middle son, Cleveland, the State of Florida Wrestling Champion, is attending Cinematography school on a full scholarship at the University of San Francisco in California. He is pursuing an acting career, and has aspirations to become a producer or a director in the future, especially of fight movies. With his family’s talent and good looks, he has a built in cast, including himself!

When Cleveland is on break from school, however, he joins right in with his two brothers Edson and Andre and the Tiger’s MMA Team, and you can find him at the weigh-in’s, backstage with the fighters, and then ringside lending support or being a “cornerman,” he’s right there in the thick of things.

Youngest fight son Andre, is the former 2004 Olympian Boxer who saw his dream come true with teammates such as Rock Allen and Andre Ward. He didn’t medal, but boxing is his heart’s love, and since turning Pro back in December of 2004, he remains undefeated, and has amassed a record of 16-0 with14 of those wins via KO’s.

Andre has fought on “Big Cards” such as the Tarver/Jones III card at the St. Pete Times Forum, in Tampa, and his fight in December 07 in the Welterweight division vs. Miguel Figueroa on the Jermain Taylor/Kassim Ouma card. Miguel was the more experienced fighter, with a record of 24-6-2, and 14 KO’s, but Andre chalked up yet another win with a TKO in the 6th round.

He not only wants to be a Champion, he wants to be a role model inside and outside the ring. Since he’s been one of the top amateurs in the world, he has fought in World Championships in front of crowds as large as 40-50 thousand in attendance. He “wants to impress every time he steps into the ring,” and with the KO’s he’s racking up, he’s doing a great job!

Editors Update – Only four years and 22 fights into his professional career, Andre Berto is on top of the WBC’s welterweight division as he recently stopped Miguel (Mikki) Rodriguez in the seventh round to capture the WBC welterweight title and belt vacated by Floyd Mayweather Jr’s retirement.

Both sons, Andre and Edson, say that their father’s fight to recover from that near fatal car accident has been the main inspiration in their lives, and has left an unforgettable impression on both of them.

Andre refers to his dad as “Pop,” and said he has no excuses for anything because of the adversities his father overcame. He said his dad works “crazy hard” every day, and that he’s “an animal,” as well as being Andre’s conditioning and every thing else coach. (Tony Morgan in Winter Haven is Andre’s boxing coach.)

Dad Berto wants the fans to know that they are a “competitive family,” and he considers every one of his children “Champions,” and wants to be remembered as a “Family of Champions” that never quit, no matter what the obstacle, they will make it to the finish line. Not only in fighting, but in life itself.

Berto says “Life is a combat.” “There is an opportunity in every obstacle and we need to learn to find it.” He said he can see it from what happened to him.

“If there isn’t an obstacle to your goal, it’s not a goal.” “If it’s too easy, then you won’t have any feeling of accomplishment.”

Some really great words and advise from a great man who still battles daily with the pain he endures from his old injuries, without a complaint, instead living each day with a gusto some of us will never know in a lifetime of living.

Now, you would think that his Champion sons and Tiger’s World MMA school was enough to keep Dieuseul occupied, but, if you thought that, you’d be wrong.

Dieuseul Berto also plays host to “Submission” Grappling Tournaments several times a year in Winter Haven with the top men, women, and children’s grappling division athletes in attendance.

These are the best local grapplers in the state, as you would expect from a tournament by Berto, but, he has also managed to get some of the finest grapplers in the nation as well as from around the world to participate in his events!

I have learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to great Champions, and Dieuseul Berto and his Family of Champions go well beyond our wildest expectations! I can’t wait to see what happens in the future!