Uruguay’s MMA fighter crowned champion in America

Jose Ignacio Ferreri, an amateur mixed martial arts fighter, defeated American LJ Heureka in Washington to clinch the lightweight title and is getting closer and closer to his dream of fighting in the UFC, the most important MMA eventing company in the world.

Uruguay’s mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Jose Ignacio Ferreri defeated American LJ Huureca in the third round yesterday and was crowned champion of the MMA lightweight category, representing Camp Warrior Gym in Washington (USA).

This Friday’s fight was longer than usual, so it was planned to have 5 rounds of 3 minutes each, but Uruguay defeated it in the third round.

This title puts him one step away from competing in the UFC, the largest and most important company in the world for organizing MMA matches.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship or UFC hosts most of the top ranked fighters in the sport and events around the world.

Despite the fact that Ferreri has vast experience in amateur fighting in various places in the United States, particularly in the states of Washington, Idaho and Utah, he assures that his biggest dream is to fight in the UFC, something that He tells her. It will change the life of him and his family.

“One of the great things that inspires me is that I have a 21-year-old sister named Belen who has spina bifida. She had 27 to 30 surgeries, and today she is alive thanks to the United States of America,” Uruguay said.

Although he left Uruguay at the age of 8, he fondly remembers his country and his dream of reaching the UFC is to help his family and his people in Uruguay.

“I miss the country a lot. There are times when I feel like I don’t want to be here but in Uruguay, but in the end I know that if I join the UFC it will change my life in many ways.” And one day I might be here. Uruguay to help my community and that’s what motivates me,” he said.

In terms of preparation, the time before a big fight is usually more important than the fight, according to Ferreri.

“Physically you have to be ready for whatever it is and there’s a lot of nerves before a fight, until you go out and get into the cage. When you walk in, it feels like all the chains Come off, your nerves disappear, ”Assured Ferreri.

During the fight, the MMA fighter usually thinks about all the things he did before to prepare for that moment and also about his family in Uruguay. «I always go out with the flag of Uruguay because a lot of people here don’t know where you are from. I like to say that I am Uruguay, that I come from a very small but strong country. Being Uruguay, it is a pleasure for me to be in the United States and to represent so many people,” Ferreri said.

In the days and hours before the incident, Ferreri focuses on his strategy and tries not to push himself physically so as not to injure himself before the match.

He also points out that MMA is a sport which is not for everyone but you need to be physically and mentally strong. “During training I have fought with fighters who are already in the UFC, something that inspires me even more. If I can fight them, I can fight anyone here.”

And he said that being an MMA fighter is very difficult, because there are so many things that people don’t see. «You only see two people who enter the cage and fight, but they don’t watch for hours and hours and do all the work there. It’s like a job that doesn’t pay, but if one day it pays you, it pays you great,” Ferreri assures.