UFC light-heavyweight Tyson Pedro has delivered a fierce warning to undefeated opponent Vitor Petrino, claiming that ‘every fighter has flaws’ ahead of their showdown in Las Vegas this weekend.
The 32-year-old will step into the octagon for the first time since his knockout victory over Anton Turkalj at UFC 293 in Sydney last year.
Pedro (10-4) will take centre stage in Sin City just hours before the NRL double-header at Allegiant Stadium, and was snapped alongside some of rugby league’s biggest stars ahead of the blockbuster weekend.
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Speaking exclusively to Wide World of Sports, the powerful Sydney-born star fired a shot at Petrino, who hasn’t lost in his professional MMA career across 10 fights, but will face his toughest test on Sunday morning (AEDT).
“It can be a gift and a curse, having that zero (on your record),” Pedro said.
“I’ve been on that hype train and when you have that zero, you can feel invincible but you’re also scared to fight because you’re so worried about losing it. It can weigh on your shoulders and some of the things he has said have been interesting.
“Everyone has flaws, no one has a perfect game. Mixed martial arts is a very young sport, there are holes in everyone’s game. When we’re watching it, there’s a lot of open space – he is all offence.
“He is a dangerous fighter, but that leaves him open.”
Pedro’s journey in the fight game has been a rollercoaster, with his rise towards the top of the division coming to a screeching halt in 2018 after suffering a serious injury, leading to a three-year absence from the UFC.
Since returning, Pedro has gone 3-1 in his past four fights and is pushing for a top-15 ranking inside the promotion’s 205lb division with this clash against Petrino.
Despite his recent success, Pedro will enter the career-defining bout in Vegas – which he took on just a month’s notice – with the same mentality that saw him produce a dominant display in his home city last September.
“Winning is important – but for me, the losses have been my more defining moments and I’ve learned more in my losses than I have in any of my wins,” he said.
“I was just a monk for that last camp and I’ve tried to do the same for this one. I got rid of everything and I just train, eat and sit there doing all my routines, meditation and journaling – that was a big part of it.
“You ask any of the top athletes and not only in the UFC, but in any sport – when you get to the top, everyone is around the same skill level and everyone is around the same athletic ability. It’s the mindset that is the difference between winners and losers.
“It sucks to lose, but what comes from them has been life-changing. I don’t let the outcome be more important than the process.”
This week has also been enormous for Pedro away from the sport, signing a deal with BSC and becoming an ambassador for the nutrition and supplements company, continuing to prove why the Penrith sensation is more than just a heavy hitter.
“I’ve been using the BSC products for years and to come on as an ambassador, it was definitely a blessing and I’m excited to see where it goes,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of friends that have retired from rugby league and from fighting – it’s always the same story. Not only because of not having anything to fall back on, but also because of your identity.
“I’m aware of the fact that we have a very short lifespan in the game and I’m just making sure that I’m aligning myself with the right companies and working on myself for future ventures.”
Pedro’s bout with Petrino will be the co-main event at the UFC Apex venue in Vegas this weekend, with a heavyweight bout between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Gaziev slated to headline.