Vitor Petrino is ready get back on the horse after the most frustrating night of his MMA career.
The Brazilian talent was a massive favorite going into his UFC 301 clash with veteran Anthony Smith this past May in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but saw his four-fight UFC winning streak snap in quick fashion after tapping to a guillotine choke two minutes into the first round.
Seven months later, Petrino returns to the cage to face light heavyweight Dustin Jacoby at UFC Tampa, which goes down Saturday night in Florida.
“It was very unfortunate,” Petrino said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “I made a mistake in the takedown attempt, but we’ve already fixed everything in the gym. Technique-wise, post-fight anxiety, everything. I think it all happened the way it was supposed to happen. Everything happens for a reason.
“But nothing has changed, we continue to work tirelessly in the gym, always motivated, always ready. That Anthony Smith fight was a bad day at work, but it happens. We’ll focus on our next goal now, which is Dustin Jacoby. I’m going for it to show everybody our full potential.”
Many athletes mention some sort of relief after losing for the first time in MMA, as it takes “weight” over their shoulders for being undefeated for so long. That’s not the case for Petrino, though.
“Losing sucks,” Petrino laughed. “I’ve never had that pressure of being undefeated. I’ve always loved what I do, which is train and fight. Let’s move on now. There’s nothing we can do other than focus on the next fights and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
Jacoby is a former GLORY kickboxer with 12 of his 19 MMA wins coming by way of knockout, but enters the cage with his back against the wall after losing four of his past five in the UFC, including defeats to former title challengers Dominick Reyes and Khalil Rountree.
“He’s very experienced and has fought great opponents,” Petrino said. “He had good performances even when he lost, and went the distance most of the time in defeat, so I can’t give him any chances. Let’s see what he brings, but I’ll impose my game and look for openings to get the knockout or the submission as quickly as possible. I don’t think this fight won’t go to a decision.”
