Carcacinha will have his second fight in the UFC (Photo: Reproduction/InstagramUFC)
At 22, Ricardo Carcacinha He arrived full of morale at the UFC. Hired through the reality show “Lookin' for a Fight”, led by president Dana White, and currently the second youngest Brazilian in the organization (he is seven months older than the heavyweight Carlos Boi), the Black Sheep MMA athlete, from Campinas-SP, is preparing for the biggest challenge of his short career in MMA.
Next Saturday, November 4th, in New York, Carcacinha will face the undefeated Canadian Aiemann Zahabi in the first fight on the UFC 217 card, which will feature three title fights. The star-studded event, however, does not scare the bantamweight, who guarantees he is prepared to show his work inside the Octagon.
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“I see it as an opportunity they are giving me to show my potential. I'm on the card for an event that's going to be exceptional, it really motivated me. (…) Sean Shelby (UFC matchmaker) said: 'Calm down, wait and we'll find something good for you'. After a week he got in touch and told me that I would fight at UFC New York. I was really happy, it was great. I’m a very patient guy, I believe that things happen as they have to”, declared the fighter in an exclusive interview with SUPER FIGHTS.
Although he has only had one fight in Ultimate, when he beat Japanese Michinori Tanaka on his debut in February, Carcacinha's short-term plans are audacious. Aiming for the top of the under-61kg division, the Brazilian is already eyeing a clash against someone in the top 10: his compatriot Thominhas Almeida, currently number 9 in the rooster rankings.
“My short-term goal is to fight someone at the top. Winning this fight – I'm going to win, I'm going to knock out or submit – I'm going to ask for someone ranked, because I want to get to the top and fight for the belt. (…) I asked for the Thomas almeida No. UFC Sao Paulo, he's a guy who I really admire, his work is very good, top of the category. Fighting against a Brazilian is boring, but this category has the most Brazilians in the rankings, so it's difficult to end up not facing (a compatriot). And I would like to face Thominhas, especially because of the history we have before arriving in the UFC. I already fought with (Allan) Puro Osso, who is on his team, and then they considered fighting me against him to find out who the real king of São Paulo is. It's something I've always wanted, I think it would be a good fight, but I'm perfectly confident in my work to beat him”, he guaranteed.
When asked about the confrontation between the champion cody garbrandt e TJ Dillashaw, who will compete for the bantamweight belt on the same card, Carcacinha was not on the fence. Without hesitation, he bet on a knockout of Garbrandt, with whom he worked for a few months when he trained at Team Alpha Male MMA.
"The cody garbrandt he will knock out TJ, I have no doubt. I trained with this guy and I know his potential, he's very confident. I know it's a 50% chance for each one, but I'm betting my money on Cody”, said the fighter.
Read the full interview with Ricardo Carcacinha:
Super Fights: How do you deal with Brazil’s promising status in MMA? Do you feel ready to take on this responsibility?
Ricardo Carcacinha: It's perfect for me (the pledge status), I worked for it, so I like dealing with it, it's something that motivates me. So, for me, there's no pressure at all, I just use it to motivate myself and train even more, to get there in the fight, put on a show and show that I really have promise. In the very near future I will get this belt for myself.
SL: You will fight in New York, at the legendary Madison Square Garde and on a historic card like UFC 217. How did the opportunity to enter this event come about?
RC: I had asked to face the Thominhas Almeida No. UFC Sao Paulo, but Sean Shelby (UFC matchmaker) said: 'Calm down, wait and we'll find something good for you'. After a week he got in touch and told me that I would fight at UFC New York. I was really happy, it was great. I'm a very patient guy, I believe that things happen as they have to.
SL: Do you see this as recognition of your work?
RC: For sure. I see it as an opportunity they are giving me to show my potential. I'm on the card for an event that's going to be exceptional, it really motivated me. (…)
SL: Your opponent, the undefeated Canadian Aiemann Zahabi, is also a promise from the organization. What do you know about his game and what will be your strategy?
RC: I saw a lot of videos of him fighting. In his last fights he demonstrated more striking, but his record has three victories by knockout, three by submission and one by decision (in his UFC debut, against the Brazilian Reginaldo Vieira). I watched him a lot, I saw that he has a predictable stand-up game, somewhat limited striking. Of course, it will only be possible to get an idea at the time of the fight, but he has a lot of opportunities on his feet. On the ground, he's a guy who hardly accepts takedowns, I've studied this and seen the best way to keep him on the ground. I'm prepared to fight him and take him down if necessary to guarantee the rounds. But I believe I will knock him out in the first round.
SL: Where was your camp held?
RC: The entire camp was held here in Campinas (SP), my hometown, at Black Sheep MMA. In fact, I spent two months at Team Alpha Male MMA, in the United States, but it was a little before I received confirmation of the fight, when I arrived in Brazil, that I found out I was going to fight. The preparation I was doing there at Alpha Male was general training, without any focus, but it added a lot. When I came back, I came with a lot of luggage from there, which helped me a lot. My wrestling coach at Team Alpha Male (Alexander Munoz) will also be accompanying me there (in New York), so it will be really good for me.
SL: Is your intention to continue training at Team Alpha Male MMA or are you also targeting other teams in the United States?
RC: I have plans to return to Team Alpha Male after my fight, I intend to stay there for a while. But right after the fight I'm thinking about staying in New York for a few days, checking out new gyms. So yes, after a while there, a month or two, returning to Alpha Male, which is a place where I really enjoyed training, it's my thing. The only problem is that there is the champion, the cody garbrandt. It would be difficult because of the belt, right? It's a focus that I have, I would have to train with the guy... I don't want to cause the same discomfort that is happening between him and the TJ Dillashaw. It's just a question of professionalism, you can't become a champion by training in the same gym as the current champion.
SL: Your UFC debut was in the United States, as was your next fight. Do you intend to play in Brazil in 2018 or is your intention to continue fighting “away from home”?
RC: I fight in any fight, but I have an affinity for acting outside of the process of having to travel. I already have an affinity with the American public, because I've been fighting in the United States since I was 19, but it's a personal dream to fight in Brazil, so much so that I asked to be on the São Paulo card. I know that at the right time I will represent Brazil here in Brazil. It will be an honor for me to fight in my country.
SL: The bantamweight category currently has the most Brazilians ranked (there are six). How do you evaluate the current moment of the division?
RC: Nowadays, 61kg is one of the categories that has the most tough guys, alongside lightweight. And more and more good guys are coming in, like Raoni barcelos, (which will enter the UFC Sao Paulo), and that's great, because I'm not there to compete with the mid-terms, I want to be the champion of the category. I want to fight against the top guys, if I have to face a Brazilian, I'll do it.
SL: What are your short-term goals within the category?
RC: My short-term goal is to fight someone at the top. Winning this fight – I'm going to win, I'm going to knock out or submit – I'm going to ask for someone ranked, because I want to get to the top and fight for the belt.
SL: Lately we have seen many fighters who arrive and are quickly facing more “relevant” or better ranked names, largely due to the provocations/challenges made. Is there any name you would like to face next?
RC: I asked for Thomas almeida No. UFC Sao Paulo, he's a guy who I really admire, his work is very good, top of the category. Fighting against a Brazilian is boring, but this category has the most Brazilians in the rankings, so it's difficult to end up not facing (a compatriot). And I would like to face Thominhas, especially because of the history we have before arriving in the UFC. I already fought with (Allan) Puro Osso, who is on his team, and then they considered me fighting him to find out who the real king of São Paulo is. It's something I've always wanted, I think it would be a good fight, but I trust my work perfectly to beat him.
SL: What is your prediction for the bantamweight belt fight between cody garbrandt e TJ Dillashaw?
RC: O cody garbrandt he will knock out TJ, I have no doubt. I trained with this guy and I know his potential, he's very confident. I know it's a 50% chance for each, but I'm betting my money on Cody.
SL: Is there a fighter you look up to?
RC: I mirror myself in Conor McGregor. Nowadays he has been bringing a lot of teachings. I see the work he does and I get a lot of inspiration, he is a guy who came to break records and managed to break all records. So, for me, he is the fighter to beat right now. I see everything he's done in MMA and I want to beat his records, so that's who I look up to.
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