Signed by Professional Fighters League for to compete at
lightweight for its 2021 season, Joilton
Lutterbach is hoping for an early matchup with one of the two
155-pound favorites: high-profile acquisition Anthony
Pettis or two-time defending champion Natan
Schulte.
The PFL season kicks off on April 21.
“I’ve already asked the promoters to put me with either one on
April 21. The PFL promised to release the card on Jan. 23,” he told
told Sherdog.com. “In this tournament format you just have three
months to train for the first fight and final. I’m in my better
shape now so the perfect scenario would be to face Pettis or Shulte
in first and final, but I´m ready for anything they bring me as
always.”
“The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3” runner-up points out that he has
fought in four different divisions during his 43-bout career.
“I was always ready depending what the promoters had to offer
me — no matter if it’s at 170, 185 or 205 pounds. For the first
time I have everything in my favor,” said Lutterbach, who is a Luta
Livre black belt under Shooto legend Alexandre
Franca Nogueira. “”For the first time in my career, I had three
months to train with the best structure of my life and with great
partners. I’m the biggest, strongest and most experienced
fighter in that tournament. Be sure I´m going to get that
million.”
The 28-year-old “Peregrino” is so confident he will win the $1
million dollar prize that he is investing all of his monthly PFL
salary to rent a space in one of the most fancy malls in Rio de
Janeiro: Vogue Square, which is located in Barra da Tijuca,
Brazil.
“My idea was initially rent an area to make my camp but when I
posted the pictures on my social media, many friends showed up and
we started to have a really high-level training camp full of
professionals,” he said.
Peregrino’s stable of training partners include the likes of
Rousimar
Palhares, Gleison
Tibau, Erick
Silva, Claudio
Silva, Rafael
Silva , Joaquim
Silva and Renan
Ferreira.
“My idea is to transform this space into a kind of ATT of Rio de
Janeiro with doors opened to all MMA professionals that need a
space to train and high-level partners. Besides a dojo and Octagon
we also have pilates, crossfit and physiotherapy,” said
‘Peregrino,’ who also has plans to produce a small MMA event every
month in the academy area.
Even being born in Paraiba (northeast of Brazil) and living in Rio
de Janeiro, “Peregrino” will represent Germany during the PFL
season.
“I lived three years in Germany. My wife is of German descent and I
started to use her surname Lutterbach, as you can see on my Sherdog
profile, which opened many doors in European market,” he said.
“Thanks to that I got titles in promotions such as CFS, KSW, FEN
and FNW. Since Brazil is very well represented in all events, I
decided to represent the country that gave me all opportunities
that changed my life as a way of acknowledgement.”
Lutterbach is confident that Germany will soon be home to an
MMA champion.
“In the beginning it was only Brazil and the USA, but now MMA is
globalized and the biggest examples are in the flags of champions
of the biggest events,” he said. “Besides Brazil and the USA, you
have China, Russia, Australia and Nigeria. Take note: In 2021 I´ll
add the German flag to that board.”