Vitor
Petrino spent countless hours preparing for this moment.
The 25-year-old CM System prospect will make his
Ultimate Fighting Championship debut when he tackles Anton
Turkalj in a
UFC Fight Night 221 light heavyweight showcase on Saturday
inside The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Petrino enters
the Octagon with a perfect 7-0 record, with six of his victories
having resulted in finishes. He last appeared on Week 7 of
Dana White’s Contender Series, where he put away Rodolfo
Bellato with punches in the second round of their Sept. 6
pairing.
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In this exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Petrino traces his
path to becoming a mixed martial artist, outlines his plans for the
future and touches on his motivations:
Sherdog.com: You are undefeated as a pro and also had at
least four amateur fights—a rarity in Brazil. Can you share some
details about your career thus far?
Petrino: Actually, I had seven amateur bouts, of which I lost one.
My one loss helped me figure out what I had to change. Since
striking came easy to me, I had been neglecting my game against the
cage, as well as jiu-jitsu. I lost to someone who didn’t even hit
me. He would take me down and score points from top position. I
feel that amateur MMA is essential so athletes can get a feel for
it, spot weak points and be a more complete fighter when they
transition to professional fighting.
Sherdog.com: How did you get interested in
MMA?
Petrino: I’ve always been around martial arts since age 6. Where I
live, I was exposed to capoeira and taekwondo. It’s something I
did, but I didn’t understand it very well. I would simply attend
classes at our social project. I ended up developing a liking for
it. By age 13 or 14, I decided to dedicate myself to boxing, muay
thai and sanda. There were no long-term plans. I trained and
enjoyed it, but I didn’t yet know how to make a profession of it. I
realized I could make a living from fighting when I came across
amateur MMA. I got to interact with other athletes who said I had
good potential. They gave me some guidance. Amateur MMA is a fairly
new thing in my state of Minas Gerais.
Sherdog.com: Did you have support in your chosen career
path?
Petrino: When I was getting started, most of my support came from
my parents and siblings. Sometimes, I’d get a little help from
friends or cousins. Since we didn’t know of anyone who had been
able to make a living from MMA, there was a fear that I might be
wasting my time. Little by little, people started seeing that I
wasn’t about to quit. The support level increased then, from my
family to small sponsors to bigger sponsors later on. It took
years. I only managed to make a living from the sport, from my
sponsorships, a year or two ago.
Sherdog.com: What sorts of other jobs did you
hold?
Petrino: I still worked regular jobs two years after I turned pro
since the sport didn’t pay much. I’ve been a security guard and
waiter. Things finally got better after I had an overseas fight
[against Gadzhimurad
Antigulov] in Abu Dhabi, [United Arab Emirates].
Sherdog.com: What was it like to punch your ticket to the
UFC by winning on Dana White’s Contender Series?
Petrino: To win on DWCS was an inexplicable sensation. The UFC is
the biggest organization in the world, so there are no low-level
fighters. I believe in my game. I know my game. I know how I train.
I’m ready to fight in any area. I’m betting that my MMA is better
than my opponent’s.
Sherdog.com: What can you say about Turkalj, your opponent
at UFC Fight Night 221?
Petrino: I never underestimate anyone I face. I simply believe in
the work I put in with my team. Regardless of what he brings, I’m
ready. My goal is to impose my game and not play his. You can
expect a great show.
Sherdog.com: Can you talk about your fight cancellation at
the end of 2022 and being rebooked against a different opponent for
this event?
Petrino: I’m much happier to be facing Turkalj now as opposed to
Tafon
Nchukwi in December. It’s not because of the change of opponent
but for the additional time I was granted. I had just fought in
September, and while I was recovering from my injuries, I received
my UFC booking. It would have still been a good decision to go
forward due to the money. However, to do it later would have been
better for me. Tafon dropped out due to an injury, and now I’m
going to face Anton, who’s a very tough opponent. I saw him fight
at [Dana White’s] Contender [Series]. He already had his UFC debut.
When I saw him on DWCS, I felt like we’d cross paths eventually.
The extra time was great for me, as far as preparation and
additional improvements. I’m ready for any situation, whether on
the mat or on the feet.
Sherdog.com: How was your training camp?
Petrino: From the start, my team has helped me keep evolving. We
have Brazil’s best fighters. I train with Elizeu “Capoeira” Zaleski dos Santos. Our coach, Cristiano
Marcello, is a jiu-jitsu legend. I train with current and
former champions like Daniel
Pereira, Luan
Santiago and
Geraldo [Coelho de Lima] Neto. Our physical conditioning coach
works with several Brazilian national teams, like golf and tennis.
I believe my team is the best in the world. Everyone works hard and
honestly. Their technical quality is impeccable. Not only do they
have a wealth of knowledge, but they’re always looking to learn
something new to pass along.
Sherdog.com: What are your plans for the
future?
Petrino: I want to secure my place in the organization. After this
fight, I want to face the best opponents. I don’t want to rush
anything. I want to keep fighting and winning until I get to the
Top 5 and get a shot at the title.
Sherdog.com: What motivates you? Petrino: I love
what I do. I love training. I love the sensation of stepping into
the cage and fighting another human being. I’m always looking to
put on a show. I feel a great sense of accomplishment. When someone
is happy doing what he loves, nothing can stop him. I can’t promise
a win, but a show is guaranteed. A happy fighter is a dangerous
fighter. I’m undefeated, but I don’t let that put pressure on me.
Every day I look for ways to get better.