WHEN WE LOOK at a real gladiator in the fight game, one with the aggression to be a dangerous knockout merchant while being equipped with an intelligent fight IQ, you only need to turn to Tyson Pedro. A man who has become one of Australia’s most exciting fighters, and one who this weekend, will kickstart his 2024 campaign as the Co-main event for UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.
Pedro currently holds a professional record of ten wins and four losses; the big plus for the Aussie is that he has a 100 per cent finish rate, meaning if you are up against him in the Octagon, you need to be mindful that he’s always hunting for that lights-out strike or submission.
This weekend will be the fighter’s biggest UFC bout yet, and we’re here to break it all down for you.
Tyson Pedro’s run with injury
The 32-year-old is looking to continue fanning the flame of his UFC career after a stuttering start due to injury. In his sixth UFC fight, Pedro ruptured his ACL against former light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in late 2018 forcing him into surgery. Then, when Pedro was geared and ready for an almighty return 14 months later, two meniscus tears and a second ACL surgery would again prolong the fighter’s time away from the Octagon.
The shift in the light heavyweight division
Pedro’s period on the sidelines saw the light-heavyweight division undergo a much-needed landscape shift. In 2018, the light heavyweight division was a dying one, a stagnant ranking monopolised by Jon Jones, a UFC legend and arguably the sport’s greatest of all time. Jones dominated the division, creating a dead end for many fighters.
Now, the division is one of the most exciting in the UFC. Fans only need to take a peek at the current top 15 to see names like Johnny Walker, Jan Blachowicz, Jiří Procházka, Jamahal Hill, and sitting pretty at the top, the menacing fan favourite, light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. With a quality roster full of hungry fighters, it makes sense that Pedro injected himself back into the weight division with a point to prove. The Aussie has gone 3-1 since his long-awaited return in 2022.
Confident his well-rounded skill set can take him to the top, Pedro believes he is a more cerebral fighter and a much more frightening and talented mixed martial artist than the one who first walked into the Octagon back in 2016.
Instagram | @tyson_pedro
Pedro’s opponent
With momentum behind him after a stellar win in Sydney at UFC 293, Pedro comes up against another formidable opponent, Vitor Petrino. An undefeated Brazilian who shapes to be Pedro’s most brutal fight yet.
Petrino is a rising star in the world of mixed martial arts. Hailing from Brazil, he has already made significant strides in his career, thanks to his impressive performances in different promotions. He made his professional debut on May 3, 2019, against Rodolfo Bellato at MF: Max Fight 22, and he won the fight in the first round with a TKO. Petrino has continued to dominate his opponents since then, with clinical performances in all his fights. As he takes the next step in his career, Petrino comes face to face against Pedro in a highly anticipated light-heavyweight showdown.
Instagram | @vitorpetrino
This fight is expected to be a gut check for Petrino, known for his offensive wrestling skills. Pedro, though he’s coming into the fight as the underdog, should provide a stern test for the undefeated Brazilian.
This weekend’s showdown
If you go by the numbers, Pedro is the bigger man, slightly taller, and has a longer reach. And If you want to call Pedro’s six plus years of experience an advantage, then Pedro has that, too.
The fact that Pedro’s fighting this weekend is down to his perseverance. Taking the battle deep and avoiding a take down have to be the Aussie’s priorities. We know Petrino is a magician on the ground, but don’t be fooled, Pedro can grapple, notching up two UFC submission finishes to his name. Look for Pedro to use his reach, jabbing the Brazilian to keep the distance. Petrino has the boxing capabilities to trade blows with Pedro, and the knockout power too, with seven of his 10 wins by knockout. The Australian will have to bide his time, dictating the pace, waiting for the perfect moment to let his right hand go, the same way he stalked down Anton Turkalj in his recent TKO win in Sydney. There the Aussie used his quick striking to stun Turkalj before unleashing his power punching.
The Australian is incredibly resilient; he doesn’t mind the figurative ‘scrap’, thriving in back-against-the-wall moments. What else can we say? He’s got the grit and the desire to win. Let the odds and bookmakers say what they want about Pedro. Because a hungry underdog, one with the skillset and fright of Tyson Pedro, is no underdog; he’s a straight-up animal.
Tyson Pedro v Vitor Petrino at UFC Fight Night takes place this Sunday, March 3, with the main card starting bright and early at 8am.
Tyson Pedro’s MMA beach workout
Pedro uses this workout to build the total-body strength and stamina required to go five rounds in the Octagon. Use it to fortify your physique.
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>Shadow boxing 5 minutes
>Push-ups x 25
>Sit outs x 10
>Head flips x 5
>Squats x 20
>Head rolls x 10
>Double leg shots x 10 each side
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