MTF 37 main event fighter and winner, Reuben Roundstone, has chosen to be the MMA face of representing the Missing & Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) at Mountain Force MMA 37 weigh-ins on June 15, 2023 and on fight night at the Shoshone-Bannock Casino & Hotel in Fort Hall, ID on June 16.
Reuben, who has been personally affected, has made a powerful mark to show his support for the movement with a red hand print on his face. This symbolic gesture is meant to raise awareness and bring attention to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous people, and to spread the message that every life is valuable. At weigh ins, Reuben also wore a T-shirt of a close relative who was gunned down.
Reuben is a fighter but he is also a mentor and a role model in his community. He is a reminder of what it means to stand up for what you believe in and to fight for a better world. He believes that the MMIP campaign is bigger than just himself and that being a part of the event allows him to bring much-needed attention to this vital issue.
The fight against MMIP is an urgent one and Reuben’s gesture speaks to the urgency and gravity of the situation. His courage is an inspiration to all of us and his willingness to stand up and show his support will hopefully be a powerful message to the world.
"My main thing is that I want to bring awareness more to Missing & Murdered Indigenous Men, Reuben said.
"They mostly focus on MMIW (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women) but I'd like to focus on MMIM (Missing & Murdered Indigenous Men). I wear it for my brother Shuggs. We did everything together. We wrestled, we played basketball and football; we even branded cows together. He was shot & killed for no reason. There are so many indigenous nations with so many missing people and murder cases that go unsolved, and I just wanna bring that to light."
Reuben’s spirit of determination and strength should be a reminder to all of us of the power of our voices when we stand together in solidarity. By bringing awareness to this serious and heartbreaking issue, Reuben truly is a hero in his own right. A true champion.
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