Draft:Art Santore

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Art (Arthur) Joseph Santore

Early Life and Education

Art Santore was born to Maria Irene Vega Tovar and Arthur Joseph Santore on October 26, 1972. His mother was Hispanic and his father is Italian. He was raised by a single mom in Costa Mesa California. As a kid he could often be found eating the leftover bits from an A&W fryer. His mother, Irene, was often on a tight budget, but would still gift him toys that would one day become collectible. He loved and continues to love star wars action figures, comic books and other well known toys. From an early age he was taught to be detail oriented and how to fix things. Often holidays were tight. He would never forget one special Christmas when he heard a bell ring and on the doorstep there were gifts at the door. Throughout his attendance at Costa Mesa High School he would bike the two miles to and from school. He wrestled and played football throughout school. Despite his popularity and election to be homecoming king, Art could be found playing Dungeons and Dragons with his cousin and friends. He started college after graduation, but had a child and chose to focus his time and energy on raising his son.

Marriage and Family

Art Santore and Shelise Atkinson were neighbors in Costa Mesa. Shelise was in California to model and act. Art was smitten by her good looks, kindness, acceptance, and energy. She was put together, has no debt, and was willing to help Art raise his child. One Friday night Art saw Shelise doing her laundry in the laundry mat. He asked what she was doing there on a Friday night. She said that she had a crappy boyfriend. Art's smooth reply was, "Let me know when you want to change that." Their first date was at Balboa Island. They ate a frozen chocolate banana and rode the ferris wheel. Though Art had tried to find a baby sitter for the day of the date the person had canceled so his five-year old son accompanied them on the date. When his son ate all the chocolate off the banana Art was embarrassed and apologized, Shelise in love with Art and his son, did not mind one bit. Shelise was a strong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and wanted her husband with her at church every Sunday. Art was willing to take the lessons and found the truth of the gospel for himself by taking missionary lessons and praying. He was baptized and they were married July 4th, 1995. There have been few Sundays that he is not found sitting in the few with his wife. They were later sealed in the San Diego Temple as a family of five. They had three children, two sons and one daughter.

Occupational Experience

Art has taken on a variety of jobs to support his family. He is know for his ability to work hard and accomplish a lot! Early in their family life Art installed security cameras, dug ditches for 12 hours, bouncer, worked at a water bottle factory, construction estimator, Missionary Training Center security, and public bus driver. Aside from his career in law enforcement may are in awe of Art's experience as a professional cage fighter.

Professional Cage Fighter

Art Santore often a quiet, strong, and peaceful man would become an animal in the cage.

He fought at 185lbs in the middlewight class. He is 6'2" and had 19 wins and 8 losses.

His most well-known photos have his long curly hair framing his blood covered face. He fought around the world and this hobby quickly became a passion. He shared that he saw one of his buddies lose a lot of weight from cage fighting and he figured if his friend could do it so could he. With his experience in wrestling Art was excited to enter the 2000s world of cage fighting. He trained with Team Quest in Lake Elsinore, California. He trained and sparred with Dan Henderson, Rameau Sokoudjou, Heath Sims, Gabe Ruediger, and Sebastian. He had appreciated the metorship from good male role models in high school and through his appearance at gyms across the nation, he has likewise mentored many young men.

Art was known as "Pachuco" and wear a yellow, purple, red, or black and white stripped zoot suit with a large hat with a feather. His entrance song for fights was "The Mask" sountrack. When this song played he would come out dancing and the crowd would love this performance, he was truly a entertainer. Similar to Art's willingness to trash talk in the gym he could often be found with his hand down luring his opponent in so he could hit him or take him down providing opportunity for his ground work to show. Art never submitted in a fight and always found a way to escape. He fought everywhere from Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, and the United States. He could be found using his "blood money" as he was known to call it, to purchase coaches or other items to support his family, the real life Rocky or Cinderella Man. Art fought with a torn ACL and won. However, when his shoulder was torn out he fought and lost. The one time he fought on a Sunday it ended badly and he vowed to keep the Sabbath day holy and never fight on a Sunday again. After a fight, win or lose, Shelise and Art would explore the city with his body bruised or face cut open. They always made the most of the opportunities given.

He has won various belts, some lined with lamb skin. He probably displays them in his TV room and allows visitors to try them on and take a picture, he has always been modest and humble about his victories.

As a Father

Though Art would work three jobs he always made time to for his family. He could be found coaching his sons' during wrestling practices or tournaments, or school events. He would attend his daughter's swim meets, cross country races or academic award events. While they were tight on budget he always found creative ways to make his children's dreams come true. He handmade a wooden bed frame, doll house, backyard treehouse, swing, treasure chest, and many more detailed wood pieces for his children. He taught them service by cleaning the church building, helping families move with his God-given strength, and assisting in his community in a variety of ways. His children will never forget how special and cool he made them feel when they got to be picked up on the motorcycle and given a ride home. Though exhausted movie night was a common favorite tradition with Art, as this was something he would often do with his mom. Though Art speaks few words, he shows his love for others through his service.

He often can be found mowing or making a renovation to the backyard, changing the car oil or brakes, walking the dogs, cleaning the car, organizing the garage or watching a kid cartoon. Though he has never had social media, he has gotten to high levels on Skyrim, and enjoys watching youtube. Throughout his childhood Art's grandma owned bees and so in his California and Utah house with Shelise they have owned a beehive. Shelise and Art enjoy collecting honey and sharing it with family and close friends.

Now

Currently Art drives the Utah public city bus, works at the Provo Missionary Training Center, and picks up shifts as Police Reserve. He walks his two great white pyrenees and lives with Shelise Santore-Tovar in a sleepy, peaceful part of Utah. He aspires to be a train grandpa and works on model trains in the basement in his spare time. Art blesses the lives of many people and is an example to many.

References

https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Art-Santore-2365

https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/2527866/art-santore

https://www.tapology.com/fightcenter/fighters/art-santore-pachuco

https://www.ufc.com/athlete/art-santore