Kevin lied about his age and weight in order to sign up, saying he was 18 and weighed 60kg, when in fact he was 17 and weighed 52kg. He was one of 14 selected to pursue the dream of the big leagues. Today he is the only one of that ‘promo’ that continues with that objective, which is closer than ever to becoming a reality. This Tuesday, ‘Gallo Negro’ will be in the seventh season of Dana White’s Contender Series, a reality show where fighters seek a contract with the UFC.
The 25-year-old Peruvian will face the Brazilian Víctor Días (32 years old) in a flyweight bout (57 kilos), after two changes in the fight. Initially, ‘Gallo Negro’ was going to face Joshua Van, then Rickson Zenidim, but finally he will face the experienced former Titan FC champion. And shortly after his debut, sport He spoke with him to find out the details of his expected presentation.
Your fight has undergone changes, you had two rivals and they dropped out for different reasons, what are your feelings about all this?
At the beginning, when they changed me to the first rival, I took it normal. I thought: ‘let the next one come’, because there was time. But the second one was changed recently and I sort of broke down a bit, but then Professor Iván was with me and gave me strength. things happen for a reason and Anyone who gets in my way I’m going to take him down, whoever comes, whoever it is, I’m going to win.
Your initial rival was going to be Joshua Van in May. In June they traded him for Rickson Zenidim, but due to a visa problem he left the fight, now you will face Víctor Dias. Did your strategy change much?
Against Van my strategy was going to be more my style, to move more, because he is a fighter who stays still, but against Zenidim it was going to be the opposite, I was going to put more pressure on him. Now against Dias, I’m going to go back to my style, move all over the place and look for the gaps to be able to knock him out.
Víctor Dias has been a former Titan FC champion and has a streak of five consecutive victories, what do you know about him?
I know it’s tough, I know he’s quite experienced, but like I said, things happen for a reason. If he’s in front of me, I’m still going to lower it. I have no doubt of that. I have been preparing very hard to think about who he is, who he trains with or where he trains. I am ready, mentally and physically prepared. I have been training very hard with teammates like Claudio Puelles, with the ‘Strong’ Barzola, Jesús Pinedo.
How was the camp?
Camp has been like hell, believe me. Preparing hard, three sessions, four sessions a day. We have even trained Sunday, 5:00 am, noon and night. We have trained very hard and the preparation has been strong. I have been constant, disciplined with everything and I know it will bear fruit. It is the most demanding camp I have ever been on.
How long have you waited for this moment, of being one fight away from entering the UFC?
I knew that this moment was going to come, because I know that I have worked hard, I have had a good career, I have eight knockouts. I know the time was coming, I felt it in my heart. When they told me the news, I was not surprised. I knew it was my time. I knew it was coming.
How did you find out about the fight?
I was just training with Professor Iván, and since we have communication with my manager, he told us that we had a fight for August 8 at Dana White’s Contender Series. I had already been having a camp for months, so I accepted in one.
For people who haven’t seen you fight, how would you define yourself in the cage?
I am a very explosive fighter, who can surprise with elbows, knees. I’m a stylist, I don’t like to throw too many punches, I like to throw precise punches. I always like to aim and put the bullet.
You must not only win your fight, but impress Dana White into giving you the UFC contract, how will you handle that?
I take it in the best way, because in itself my style, my way of fighting sells, when I fight I surprise too much. I don’t worry because my fighting style has always sold, it has impressed, like I’ve knocked out and all that, I don’t have to worry. I’m sure I’m going to impress Dana White. This is the most important fight of my career.
How do you think the fight will go?
I know what he’s going to do. I am completely sure that he is going to want to knock me down, because standing up I am much superior to him, he is going to despair. He’s going to get desperate to take me down and want to keep the fight. If he manages to knock me down, I’m going to stand up and I’m going to finish him on my feet.
Are you going to seek completion how sooner?
Yes, I feel so sure of myself that I feel that I can even submit it. I’m sure of that, that I can knock him out or submit him.
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