“Essa e a minha hora, tudo vai dar certo!” (“This is my hour. Everything will work out!”) These are the words of a man seeking redemption.
Brazilian born Australian lightweight, Bernardo ‘Trekko’ Magalhaes, went into his UFC debut in February with high hopes.
Riding a five fight win streak and with an 11-1 record, he hoped to use his Brazilian Jujitsu to control dangerous striker, Tim Means.
Unfortunately as we see week after week in the UFC, things don’t always go to plan.
Trekko was unable to take the American down to the ground, and as a result, was battered by Mean’s superior reach and kickboxing. He was knocked down in the second round and lost by a unanimous decision.
It was not the entry into the UFC he had dreamed of.
However this weekend at UFC on FX 3, Bernardo Trekko gets a second shot at his dream of rising to the top echelons of the UFC, when he faces American lightweight, Henry Martinez (8-2).
No fighter likes the taste of defeat, and the loss to Means has undoubtedly motivated Trekko to train harder for his second shot at his dream.
Fighting out of TP Gym in Cronulla, Magalhaes says he is in the best condition of his life.
“I’m really well prepared for this fight. Everything is going perfect this time. Now, it is my time”
If redeeming his first loss does not motivate the Trekko, then keeping his UFC dream alive will be at the forefront of his mind.
While he has a four fight contract with the UFC, it is hard to see him launching an assault at the top, or even middle of the lightweight division after losing his first two fights with the company. Far bigger names than him have been dropped after two only losses.
If Bernardo Trekko wants to step up to the next level, he must do it now.
This win will not come easily though.
This weekend the man he faces will be just as hungry for a win, having gone through the same experience of losing a UFC debut fight by decision.
While Trekko is a jujitsu specialist, Martinez is an all-round MMA fighter with four submissions, two TKOs and two decision victories to his name.
Fighting out of Greg Jackson’s gym in New Mexico; the 29-year-old American will go into the fight with a well thought out strategy, impeccable conditioning and the knowledge he has trained next to fighters such as lightweight champ Jon Jones, or interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit.
This fight will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge Magalhaes has faced in his career.
If Trekko cannot drag Martinez down and control the fight on the floor, Martinez’s striking could make it a long night.
Regardless of the result this weekend, but particularly if his hand isn’t raised, Trekko would be wise to consider a drop to featherweight. Against slightly smaller opposition, a potential strength advantage would complement his controlling jujitsu style well.
The idea is not too far out of left field either. Before accepting the fight with Martinez at lightweight Trekko mentioned the idea on Twitter.
That discussion will continue after the weekend though. Switching weight classes is the furthest thing from Magalhaes mind at the moment.
Right now all Trekko wants is to redeem his loss with a resounding victory.
E. Spencer Kyte
Roar Guru
Martinez is a much more compact fighter than Means, but he's also dropping back down to lightweight after an impressive showing against Matthew Riddle in a losing effort earlier this year. While he's not a great wrestler and doesn't work for a ton of takedowns, Riddle struggled to get Martinez to the floor, which doesn't bode well for Trekko here. Magalhaes' struggle - as is often the case for jiu-jitsu players - is there isn't any real set-up to his takedowns; he just tries to close the distance, grab on to his opponent, and drag it to the ground. In today's UFC where guys work takedown defense like mad, that's not going to work too often. Should be an interesting scrap.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
That is a very interesting idea. I have always thought the UFC were fairly lenient with not forcing fighters into certain weight classes. Guys like Frankie Edgar, Dan Henderson, GSP and Anderson Silva come to mind immediately as fighters who could have changed and the UFC probably wanted to change at one point or another but when it came to crunch time they haven't forced the issue, they have let the fighter make the decision. Maybe they are a bit more dictatorial to fighters a bit lower down the ladder.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
I'm hoping he does well too. One reason is we all know Aussies love to cheer Aussies and it would certainly bring a few extra headlines if he made a run up the lightweight ladder. Second reason though is he is just a really top guy. When I interviewed him for my first article he was just a top bloke with a great story of a guy who came here and has built a life and business out of his passion for jujitsu and MMA. I will actually be working at National Radio News while he fights this weekend so I will make sure to drop his name into a story if he does well.
Sam Brown
Roar Guru
It is going to be a very tough fight for Trekko, if he wins, he will have certainly earned it. Anyone going out of Greg Jackson's is going to be a handful. How do you think Martinez compares to Means? Means is much taller and has a much longer reach, which certainly played a part in the first match. Do you think it will be easier for Trekko to take Martinez down?
Andrew Potter
Roar Guru
He wanted to drop to Featherweight but as I'm told the UFC refused the move.
ErinT
Roar Guru
This is going to be one interesting fight. Hoping Magalhaes gets the win to carry on raising the profile of the sport here, would be good timing before the TUF Smashes onslaught begins!
E. Spencer Kyte
Roar Guru
Nice work, Sam. I think you're right about "Trekko" being better suited for featherweight in the future, I just hope he gets the chance to relocate before getting handed a pink slip. This is another tough match-up, with one of the disadvantages for Magalhaes being that Henry Martinez trains every day with the man who beat him in his debut, Tim Means. Not only is the blueprint for beating the Brazilian-born Aussie out there already, it was crafted by Martinez's coaches. This is one of the preliminary card fights that I'm really looking forward to though; should be a good one.