Ruben 'The Beast' Arroyo had a couple of amateur MMA fights back in 2015 before stepping into the Squared Circle for the first time in his new home of Denver, CO. Originally from El Paso, Arroyo has quite the life story. He lived on a Native American reservation there where in his words, “not many people make it out.”

Arroyo was incarcerated in his old home state of Texas and upon release, he had learned that his home had burned down just days before he got out, leaving him homeless. He had $20 dollars to his name and the clothes on his back. Lucky for him, he at least had a car that he could stay in and a gym that he could shower at. With a criminal history, finding a job was very difficult, but a local Subway gave him a shot and he worked hard there. He saved up money while still living in his car and eventually got a place to live. Fighting is a way to change his life forever. 

Arroyo has a young son who is his little sidekick and he does everything that he can to keep him on the straight and narrow path in life. He teaches his son about his mistakes so that he doesn’t make the same ones. You can’t help but root for a guy like that who made some bad decisions in the past but has really changed his life for the better without any handouts and with no one really believing in him. 

Arroyo was recruited from the most recent tryouts in Denver.