Jean Matsumoto vows to profit from the chance when he faces top-ranked Rob Font this weekend at UFC Seattle.
The undefeated bantamweight was flying again from Rio de Janeiro to Bragança Paulista, after spending a number of weeks coaching at KO Squad, when his supervisor referred to as with a suggestion to withdraw from a UFC 313 conflict with Chris Gutierrez on March 8 and as a substitute change Dominick Cruz versus Font on 9 days’ discover.
And Matsumoto didn’t hesitate.
“We agreed immediately as a result of it’s such an awesome alternative,” Matsumoto advised MMA Combating. “We nonetheless had three weeks to chop weight and end the camp [for UFC 313] however it’s a chance you may’t deny. To interchange Dominick Cruz and enter the rating in my third UFC struggle, I couldn’t move this chance.”
Font vs. Matsumoto will probably be a catchweight of 140 kilos, however the Brazilian mentioned it wasn’t his request.
“We have been prepared to make 135 as a result of my weight was as anticipated, so all I needed to do was dehydrate,” Matsumoto mentioned, “however the UFC already despatched the contract for 140 kilos. We have been prepared to make 135, however it’s positively simpler with out these last 5 kilos [laughs].”
The 25-year-old Brazilian is unbeaten as an expert fighter with 9 finishes in 16 victories, together with a DWCS choice over Kasey Tanner and back-to-back UFC wins in opposition to Dan Argueta and Brad Katona. Combating somebody like Font is a dream come true, he mentioned, and an opportunity to chop the road so early in his UFC profession — and possibly get him a struggle with a giant title like Marlon Vera subsequent.
“I’ve all the time imagined myself combating at that degree, however not proper now,” Matsumoto mentioned. “However since this chance got here to my door now, I’m able to embrace it. Profitable this struggle skips two years in my life, after which I can dream increased. I nonetheless have a lot to evolve, however I worry nobody on this division. I can struggle anybody with the appropriate changes.”
Matsumoto sees huge variations within the stand-up sport from Gutierrez to Font, however mentioned he determined to take care of the identical technique given the brief time for main modifications.
“[Font] could be very skilled,” Matsumoto mentioned. “I’ve all the time watched his struggle. I all the time watch [bantamweight] fights to see what I must work on and issues like that. He has good boxing and nice distance, a superb attain for the division, however I believe it’s a superb match-up for me as a result of I’m additionally a striker and I’ve been doing this my complete life. I’m prepared for this struggle.”
