After overcoming adversities and looking for it to achieve what he wanted, ‘Nene’ Méndez will finally have the opportunity to represent the country outside our borders, in Europe more than 10 kilometers away. The 28-year-old Peruvian will fight this Friday at the Cage Fight Series 13 event in Austria against local Bogdan Grad at featherweight (66 kilos), in an event that will also be broadcast on the UFC streaming channel (UFC Fight Pass). .
Méndez looked for this opportunity on his own and even had to pay for his ticket, for which he even did an activity (Chinese box) to get his travel bag and everything. The ‘Nene’, far from being demotivated by the problems that arose, put a good face on the situation and is ready to make himself known on the other side of the world. sport He spoke with the national fighter shortly after his fight in the Austrian event to find out the details of his preparation and what he expects from the fight against an experimenting opponent like Bodgan Grad.
How have you prepared for your fight on March 10 in Austria?
I am very happy for this opportunity, a long time ago I was waiting for it, but it did not happen. I myself have sought this opportunity, I myself have created it and I myself am financing my trip. A great friend I have in Belgium was the one who helped me get the fight. I prepare very hard for all the rivals, I train the same for all of them, I always try to acquire new weapons, new tools.
How did this fight come to fruition?
Last year I wasn’t having a good time in Peru, financially and emotionally, until a friend of mine had an illness and I started thinking, ‘I have everything and I’m going to look for an opportunity.’ I looked up my friend Wagner who lives in Belgium and he told me about a fight in Austria against a local fighter, I didn’t hesitate.
Your rival Bogdan Grad, what do you know about him?
With my team we always study our rivals, this is strategy, we always observe the strong points and the weak points. [Bogdan] He is a good fighter, but I am not going to give victory to anyone, I have not prepared so hard to go and lose. We know he’s a striker, he’s a complete fighter. That day they will see a better version of me, with a good mentality and focused.
What have you improved in this camp?
I have been constantly improving since the start of the pandemic. The pandemic for me was learning, in that time I have been polishing myself, I have not stopped since then, acquiring new knowledge, in striking and on the ground, like jiu-jitsu.
This will be your first fight outside the country, something you expected a long time ago…
I feel very calm. When I fight in Peru, during the week of the fight, I am expectant, sometimes I can’t even sleep, but now what I have always wanted will happen, what I always imagined, but I feel calm. My training for a fight is on Monday to Saturday; I’m taking it very happy, very expectant for that day, I want to make history, I want them to see that I have talent, that Peru has talent and that you can achieve what you set out to do.
There was always that issue of fighting outside, it was a goal that you had…
As a fighter, I’ve always looked for this opportunity, but it didn’t happen. Here I have been denied a visa (to the United States) three times. When you are denied something, you get down, even you start to think, age advances, and you feel that you are not achieving anything in this sport, but I always have constant faith and everything happens for a reason, this opportunity has come to me, I’m going to Europe has shown what I’ve worked for.
You also had to pay for the travel expenses, what did you do?
I haven’t been having a good time, but this year I said I was going to do something crazy. This fight came out, but the tickets were not covered, the ticket is not cheap, before there were friends, businessmen who helped me, but this time Peru is not having a good time, and that has made me notice, that my friends are not either they are doing well. So I went to all of Peru, I did an activity (Chinese box), a fundraiser to get the ticket, I did my activity and that’s how I was able to get the ticket.
With the activity you did you managed to cover your tickets then…
Yes, the good that the event is going to pay me too and I have taken it as an investment. Right now I’m not fighting for money, in Peru no one fights for money, it’s a lie that you earn money here, I’m really doing it because I’m passionate about it, for fun and because my name is always at the top and is noticed in the world. I’m not doing it for money, it’s necessary, yes, but now I’m not doing it for that.
Who has been key to make this happen?
My eternal gratitude to Francis Allison (Mayor of Magdalena) for his constant support for my life, to my schools BarranKO, Dogo Training Center and Guigo G3, and also to Miguel Gaviño, my physical trainer.
The Cage Fight Warriors event will be broadcast on the UFC platform, it’s important to get noticed…
Yes, a few weeks ago my manager came, he told me ‘sometimes exposure is worth much more than anything, I studied this event a lot, I’m going to fight where sometimes Peruvians don’t fight, if we see a Peruvian who has fought in Europe, we don’t know of one that has had good exposure, I want exposure, I’m going to have great exposure and it’s probably my ticket to something better, like the big leagues.
How do you expect the fight to play out?
This fight is going to be very aggressive, explosive, my rival is an experienced fighter, there is no inequality, he has a 10-1 record, I am undefeated in 10 fights. It will be a very even fight, everyone knows that I am not going to give victory to anyone, I am going to fight.
Are you prepared for any environment or situation that occurs during the fight?
Yes, I am ready for anything, to win by knockout, submission or decision. I’m not interested in which round I win, but I’m going to do it, I’m not interested in how I’m going to win either, I’m prepared for all three situations. I have a confidence in God that gives me that plus, that day I will defend my words.
What would be the ideal win?
I would love to knock out, I’m a grappler, but I would love to knock out a knockout, that would be great, I’m going to look for him.
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