Jean Matsumoto vows to take advantage of the chance when he faces top-ranked Rob Font this weekend at UFC Seattle.
The undefeated bantamweight was flying again from Rio de Janeiro to Bragança Paulista, after spending just a few weeks coaching at KO Squad, when his supervisor referred to as with a suggestion to withdraw from a UFC 313 conflict with Chris Gutierrez on March 8 and as a substitute change Dominick Cruz versus Font on 9 days’ discover.
And Matsumoto didn’t hesitate.
“We agreed instantly as a result of it’s such an awesome alternative,” Matsumoto advised MMA Combating. “We nonetheless had three weeks to chop weight and end the camp [for UFC 313] but it surely’s a chance you’ll be able to’t deny. To interchange Dominick Cruz and enter the rating in my third UFC struggle, I couldn’t move this chance.”
Font vs. Matsumoto will likely be a catchweight of 140 kilos, however the Brazilian stated it wasn’t his request.
“We have been keen to make 135 as a result of my weight was as anticipated, so all I needed to do was dehydrate,” Matsumoto stated, “however the UFC already despatched the contract for 140 kilos. We have been keen to make 135, but it surely’s undoubtedly simpler with out these closing 5 kilos [laughs].”
The 25-year-old Brazilian is unbeaten as an expert fighter with 9 finishes in 16 victories, together with a DWCS determination over Kasey Tanner and back-to-back UFC wins in opposition to Dan Argueta and Brad Katona. Combating somebody like Font is a dream come true, he stated, and an opportunity to chop the road so early in his UFC profession — and perhaps get him a struggle with a giant identify like Marlon Vera subsequent.
“I’ve all the time imagined myself combating at that stage, however not proper now,” Matsumoto stated. “However since this chance got here to my door now, I’m able to embrace it. Profitable this struggle skips two years in my life, after which I can dream larger. I nonetheless have a lot to evolve, however I worry nobody on this division. I can struggle anybody with the correct changes.”
Matsumoto sees huge variations within the stand-up recreation from Gutierrez to Font, however stated he determined to take care of the identical technique given the quick time for main adjustments.
“[Font] could be very skilled,” Matsumoto stated. “I’ve all the time watched his struggle. I all the time watch [bantamweight] fights to see what I must work on and issues like that. He has good boxing and nice distance, a very good attain for the division, however I feel it’s a very good match-up for me as a result of I’m additionally a striker and I’ve been doing this my entire life. I’m prepared for this struggle.”
