Renewed, Junior Cigano talks about motivation for fighting Pulev: 'it's going to show who I really am'

J. Cigano (photo) was released by the UFC in 2021. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook UFC

After being released from the UFC in 2021, the former heavyweight champion (up to 120,2 kg) Junior Gypsy is preparing to return to action at Triad Combat, an event that combines the rules of MMA with those of boxing, where he will face Kubrat Pulev in the first months of 2022, with no set date yet.

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In an interview with journalist Brett Okamoto, from North American ESPN, Junior Gypsy He spoke about his current situation and his motivation to fight again.

“I'm training again. Man, I'm running every day. I wake up at 05:30 am to train boxing. It's something I haven't done in a long, long time. I'm doing sit-ups every day. I'm feeling great about the way things are now, it's brought back that good energy. The happiness of being doing something I love doing. I love fighting, but I wasn't enjoying it anymore because of the pressure and responsibilities they were putting on me. Is weird. Now I have that smile on my face again, the happiness in my heart to be able to move forward”, said the Brazilian.

Cigano's opponent, Kubrat Pulev debuted at Triad Combate at the end of 2021, when he knocked out Frank mir, another former Ultimate champion. The Bulgarian boxer's performance generated some concern among the Brazilian's fans, who has not won a fight since March 2019 and left the UFC after four consecutive knockout defeats.

“I am grateful for the comments and concern. But this time I talked to myself and my family to think about everything and decide what to do. I'm 37 now and I was thinking about quitting. Maybe it's not for me anymore, but that's not my truth. My truth is that I love it and I can still do it. If you go to the gym and see me fight, man, I'm getting better. This fight will now show all these people, all those who support me and those who don't, who I really am. I'm feeling happy. If I don’t fight well, then it will be reality and I will know that I can no longer perform well”, concluded Cigano.