Jungle Fight two-division champion Willian
Souza will face Farid
Basharat on Dana White’s Contender Series in Las Vegas on June
26.
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The Brazilian known as “Colorado” was champion at 145 and 135
pounds in Jungle Fight, but he has his sights set on UFC gold at
bantamweight.
“The bantamweight champion should watch himself, because I’m
coming. I’m here to terrorize the division. And I’ll tell you how
many fights it will take me to become UFC champion: seven fights,”
Souza said in an interview with Sherdog.com.
A training partner of Deiveson
Figueiredo, the 25-year-old “Colorado” has been victorious in
11 of 12 professional outings, with all of his wins coming inside
the distance. Most recently, he knocked out
Pacceli Afonso Campos Almeida in the second round at Jungle
Fight 106.
“I’m really happy to be able to show Dana how good I am. I have no
opponent on my level in Brazil. I have 11 consecutive victories, no
fights in the hands of the judges, nine knockouts and two
submissions. It’s time to show the ‘gringos’ how good I am and make
a lot of money,” Souza said.
Basharat will take an 8-0 record into his matchup with Souza. The
London Shootfighters representative has finished five of those by
way of submission. Souza is not worried about the challenge his
opponent presents.
“The only thing I know is that he’s dead. He’s never faced a
psychopath like me who has nothing to lose,” Souza said. “I enter
the Octagon to fight. I don’t give a damn about the stitches, I
want his head on a platter. That’s what matters. And that’s what
will happen. When I get to that weigh-in, I’m going to terrorize
him so much. It will be a brutal knockout.”
Like many Brazilian fighters, “Colorado” comes from a very poor
family.
“I fought a lot in school,” he said. “One day in 2011, I saw one of
the guys I beat up showing his medals to everyone in school, and I
told my mother I wanted to train. She used to sell ice creams in
the streets, so it was hard get the money I needed. But two months
later, she arrived home with exactly the amount I needed, and I
promised her I would give her a better future through the sport.
Since then, I never stopped fighting to keep my promise. Be sure
that I’m arriving in UFC to make history.”