Pezão celebrates his first fight at home: 'For the first time I'm feeling light'

Pezão (photo) participated in a chat with fans this Tuesday. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube

Professional MMA athlete since 2005, Antonio Pezão is just a few days away from having his first fight in his home country. The Brazilian fighter will fight Andrei Arlovski the main fight of UFC Fight Night 51, in Brasília (DF), and celebrated the fact that he finally had the fans behind him.

Precisely for this reason, Pezão said he feels “light” for the first time in his career in the week before a fight. “[The expectation] is wonderful. It's the first time I'm fighting professionally in Brazil, in the city where I was born. I have Brasília in my blood and heart, so for me it's been exciting. Even because the fans were by my side. I've always fought in hostile terrain, against the fans, and for the first time I'm going to fight with the fans on my side. A lot of people ask me about pressure – there is no pressure at all, on the contrary. Pressure is when we fight with the stadium booing. For the first time I'm feeling light, feeling good, to put on a great show and reward the fans”, said the fighter, in a chat with fans this Tuesday (9).

Pezão, who fought for the heavyweight belt in May 2013, being defeated by Cain Velazquez, believes he is two fights away from a new chance. “Today, I am number four in the rankings. I believe that, by going through this fight with victory, I will remain in this position, but I believe that, next, the UFC should give me another fight with a tough athlete. It's a category that doesn't have many athletes, where, after two, three fights, you're ready to fight for the belt. So, after this and another fight, I should be ready to fight for the belt”, he said.

The Brazilian also analyzed the recent defeat of his opponent alistair overeem for Ben Rothwell. According to Pezão, the result is a consequence of the stance presented by the Dutchman in recent years. “ Overeem has always been one to talk a lot and train little. The fighter is made inside the Octagon, with results, and not by talking, giving nasty interviews. I must have started it there. He saw the big guy in front of him and must have remembered something. He's not the same after that fight. But it’s that thing: he’s reaping what he sowed in the past,” he said.

UFC Fight Night 51 will take place this Saturday (13), at the Nilson Nelson gym.

Check out the video chat with Pezão:

Fatal change? Makhachev ignores warning and could end tragically at welterweight!