Dozens of fighters enter the UFC yearly by means of Dana White’s Contender Collection, however Rodrigo Sezinando feels particular that he’s doing so through the old-school method of The Final Fighter.
The truth present completed its thirty third season just lately and Sezinando will battle Daniil Donchenko, a fellow member of Workforce Cormier on this system, for the welterweight trophy at Noche UFC 3, Saturday night time in San Antonio, TX.
“I believe TUF is far more attention-grabbing [than DWCS] as a result of I’ll watch the present once more in 20 years, and I’ll nonetheless have the identical feeling I’ve immediately,” Sezinando informed MMA Preventing. “It’s in historical past. I believe TUF is more durable [than DWCS] as a result of you recognize you need to struggle greater than as soon as and you need to practice with guys that may find yourself being your opponents, identical to it occurred to me. I fought a man that was coaching with me, and now I’m preventing one other teammate — and I needed to struggle twice in 13 days.”
The 170-pound prospect left Niteroi, Brazil for Canada after successful a struggle “I used to be alleged to lose” in Vancouver in March 2023. Sezinando labored in building whereas juggling his profession earlier than settling just for personal martial arts lessons, and went on to win three extra fights in Canada — all for titles — to get a name from the UFC.
“I had already fought twice in title fights in Canada and received a proposal to struggle in Montreal, throughout the nation and a division up,” Sezinando mentioned, “however that’s like chopping a tree from high to backside. Everyone’s head and chin are equal. I had a great struggle, knocked him out within the first spherical, and that’s what introduced me to the UFC.”
Sezinando mentioned he was initially approached with a struggle on DWCS however the UFC brass “appreciated my character”, shifting him to TUF as a substitute. His dream was to be on Cormier’s staff, and ended up being Cormier’s No. 1 choose at welterweight.
The welterweight ultimate was initially scheduled for UFC 319 on Aug. 16, however Sezinando injured his ankle whereas working within the streets of Chicago throughout his weight lower.
“I’m positive mentally,” Sezinando mentioned. “The physique is already recovered. I do know I received’t be one hundred pc there, however the 50 p.c can be greater than sufficient as a result of nobody needs it greater than I do. I’ll be prepared, I’ll be keen, so let’s go for this.”
Whatever the final result at Noche UFC, Sezinando mentioned his “primary objective” is to chop all the way down to 155 kilos for the longer term.
“I’ll win this struggle and begin to set up my life to struggle at light-weight,” Sezinando mentioned. “I believe that’s my division. I believe I’ll be a giant, robust, quick and explosive light-weight. I’ll really feel extra comfy doing what I would like as a result of my cardio can be higher. I really feel like I’m carrying a weight that isn’t mine once I struggle at 170. I’ll both do some work to get stronger at 170, or lower all the way down to 155 and get massive there.”
