Another Argentine debut at UFC 284: Francisco Prado, the undefeated savage who went from promise to MMA reality

From promise to reality, Francisco Prado (20), Argentine fighter of mixed martial arts (MMA)will make its debut in UFC 284 this Saturday at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia against local jamie mullarkey in a light fight (155 lbs-70 kilos). Unbeaten in eleven fights, Prado called everyone before the judges’ decision.

Therefore, he will become one of the Argentine legion in the UFC, which he has Santiago Ponzinibbio as the greatest exponent in this sense. They are added Guido Cannetti, Esteban Ribovics, Ailín “Fiona” Perez, Marcelo Rojo and Silvana “la Malvada” Gómez Juárezthe latter two without currently a firm contract with the company.

And there will be no better setting to start his career in the world’s leading event organization company in this sport, given that the card will have two championship matches and a large audience in the stands and on TV.

The Mexican Yair Rodríguez and the American veteran will collide in the co-star Josh Emmet for the 145-pound interim belt. In the main event, the local Alexander Volkanovskyfeatherweight champion, he will try to defeat the lightweight champion, the Russian Islam Makachev.

The Argentine stood out as champion of the Samurai Fight House (SFH) event, which held its events in the country throughout 2022, but which had debuted in Brazil.

“It was a huge joy. I’ve fought for this all my life, trained since I was a kid and had so much happiness and emotion together. When that moment came, everything I went through to get to that moment came from me like a movie in my head,” she told him. Francis said clarion.

He lived in Córdoba and trained in the gymnasium alpha team from that province, but the departure of his partner Esteban Ribovics for Miami, who won a UFC contract on the Dana White Contender Series reality show, forced him to look for other avenues.

“I had run out of a partner to train with and we started looking for another team. We found the one from Mar del Plata (Brothers of Life), I went there for a week, I liked it and had a good feeling with the guys who had fought in the same SFH event,” he clarified.

And followed. “I knew the “El Chino” (Kevin) Vallejos already from there Carlitos Petruzzella, and I’ve stayed from there. I also had good vibes with the teacher ale belatinez. They helped me a lot, I improved my wrestling, my boxing,” she said.

Back in Australia, he said the first two days were hard to get used to the famous jet lag. “With the team we took a nap and slept like six hours. But we’re fine now,” she recalled.

– What did your family say when they heard about this trip?

– We all cried together. We were very happy and it was the news we fought for all our lives. I owe it to my family who have always supported me and I’m where I am also thanks to them. It was a great joy to come home and tell them, “We did it, I signed with the UFC.” It was one of the best moments of my life.

– You will start in a numbered event with contested titles: how do you imagine that scenario?

– I know it will be packed, there will be two belts in dispute and then lots of spectators watching the event, so I can’t imagine a better scenario for me. It will be amazing to be able to show all that I am in front of so many people.

– Do you know what song you will enter with?

– I always enter with my song, which is “the new champion” From i love bluebecause I want to be the new UFC champion.

– What did they analyze of your rival?

– He’s a tough fighter who takes a lot of hits, but I don’t think anyone hit him as hard as I will. I don’t think he can handle my punches.

– As a local you will get all the support. How do you see it?

– I work on it, I try to visualize a lot what that moment, that situation will be like. But it’ll just be him and me in there, and there won’t be any drama. People will boo me when I come in and stuff, but I have no problem. I know the job I have to do and I will do it.

– What you said about “visualization”: do you have any coaching or do you do any kind of mental or psychological work?

– I have no coaching, but I like to read a lot on the subject. And I always practice my mental stuff.

– How much do you think being undefeated influenced them to get noticed by the UFC?

– Yes, I think that’s what most influenced me to be undefeated so that they notice me. Also, I finished them all and never came to a decision. I think that’s what got the most attention for the company to pay attention to me.

– Unlike Ribovics, you signed a direct contract and didn’t have to fight for it. Would you have liked that all-or-nothing adrenaline rush?

– No, of course it’s always preferable to go through one. Why take so many risks? Of course, if she said she had to go to the Contender, there was no problem. But thank God that’s how it happened. The Contender out there gives you three or four months of preparation and now I had a month and a half, but we accepted it in one go.

– You’ve been practicing martial arts since you were 14: what should you improve more on than other aspects?

– I think when you say you don’t have to improve at anything, that’s when you get stuck. There are always things to improve. For all. No matter how comfortable I am in boxing or wrestling, I still want to keep improving, because I think this is the way to evolve: never say “that’s it”. I would like to improve everything.

– What has caught your attention so far within that organization?

– The entire organization. It’s the best event in the world, so they organized everything. Everything is at a high level, I have nutritionists for me, everyone sees what I need … It’s a great cure and I’m happy.

– What surprised you about Australia?

– For now all the architecture is very beautiful. The quiet city. We arrived at eight in the evening and the whole city was already shut down. They all get up very early and go to bed early.

– Have you traveled that far?

– Never. He had gone to Natal, in northern Brazil, but not that far away. It was about 40 hours of travel, but it was good enough.