MMA Ratings Chat Session: Frankie Perez

By Raphael Garcia

New Jersey native Frankie Perez will make his UFC debut on Sunday at UFC Fight Night 59. MMA Ratings spoke with the 25-year-old fighter about his budding career and what that moment will mean for him:

First and foremost, how are you feeling now that the moment is just about here?

Frankie Perez: I’m excited. I’ve been calling for this for quite a while. The paperwork is signed and everything is really going to happen, it’s so crazy. It hasn’t hit me hard yet. It will probably hit me when I fly out on Wednesday and start doing media.

It’s going to be overwhelming and to be honest, I might cry. I’ve been going through so much with my family, recently losing my grandfather – that this moment means a lot. It’s funny, because when I first started fighting and tried to explain what I did, people would ask me if I “did UFC.” Well, now I can finally tell them yes, yes I do UFC.

Perez is a well-recognized name within New Jersey’s MMA scene. A member of Team Ricardo Almeida, Perez shares the training room with athletes such as Frankie Edgar, Marlon Moraes, Edson Barboza, and numerous others. Now he is getting the opportunity to follow many of them to the largest promotion in the sport.

This isn’t his first brush with mainstream mixed martial arts. Perez’s most recent bout was against Tom Marcellino at World Series of Fighting 13, where he took a three-round decision victory. Both that bout and this upcoming UFC one came on short notice.

Tell me about your fight in World Series of Fighting and how that prepared you for this opportunity.

FP: World Series came late notice. I was actually at work and they gave me a call around 1 am. It was about five weeks out from the fight. They promised me the fight would be on TV, and once I heard that I was back in the gym.

I had a bout planned for the Ring of Combat lightweight title that was supposed to be in January. Unfortunately I lost my grandfather right before Christmas and canceled that fight on a Wednesday. The UFC called me that Saturday and told me that someone was injured and asked if I wanted to fill in – so I jumped at the opportunity.

Perez is standing in for Francisco Trevino, who was also an injury replacement. Perez will step in to face Johnny Case in his second Octagon appearance. “Hollywood” boasts a 19-4 record, which includes nine straight wins. His last appearance ended in a technical submission win over Kazuki Tokudome at UFC Fight Night 52.

What are some of your thoughts on Johnny Case?

FP: I’ve watched some of his fights. I know he’s a veteran with a lot of experience but that doesn’t bother me. He has a lot of experience but I’ve fought guys with a lot more experience than me before. I’ve watched video on him and he’s certainly beatable. I’m sure he’s never faced anyone like me before. I train with the best team in the world and all these guys are some of the best in their weight classes.

Perez is entering the UFC at an important time in his career. He suffered the first defeat of his career at Ring of Combat 48, but with a record of 9-1, he truly believes he has grown from that moment. In that bout, Perez faced Chris Wade — another fairly recent UFC signee — for the organization’s lightweight title. The bout was extremely close, as Wade took a split decision win that Perez still feels like he won, but he may encounter Wade again while on the UFC roster.

You recently suffered your first defeat to another man who recently joined the UFC, Chris Wade. How did that moment change your career?

FP: Ha, Chris keeps coming up. I learned a lot from my first defeat. It was a real humbling experience. I still think I won, but that’s neither here nor there. I learned a lot of positive things about myself, like I can push through the tough moments. That fight brought out the best in me. I know it’s easy to say “don’t leave it in the judges’ hands,” and I honestly try not to.

I’ll definitely fight him again if given the chance. There isn’t any bad blood between us at all. But he and his team know that win was a fluke. I hope we get to warm up in the same room so he can see how much I’ve changed.

What are your teammates saying to you to help you stay mentally prepared for this moment?

FP: Since a lot of the guys have already made it to the UFC, they are telling me to not let the big lights get to me. Stay humble and stay relaxed. All the years of preparation have led to this moment. I’ve been on the big stage before in other ways, and those moments have prepared me for this.

Being a part of an important fight team in New Jersey has allowed Perez to become a MMA mainstay in that region. Ring of Combat helped develop stars such as Edgar, Jim Miller, Chris Weidman, and many others. And the organization’s head, Lou Neglia, has seen his fair share of fighters get signed by the UFC, and he was just as excited to see Perez go as any of the other fighters.

How did Lou of Ring of Combat respond to one of his biggest stars getting the call?

FP: We talked. I thanked him for creating Frankie Perez; without him the UFC would not have known about me. He said “There are tons of 155s in the country that they could have picked and they picked you. Proves that they are picking for talent, not just to throw someone in there.” Lou was very excited, congratulated me and wished me the best. I hope to make it down there to support ROC as well.

How has New Jersey responded to you finally making it to the UFC? You’re among a group of important fighters that call the Garden State home.

FP: Ah, man it’s been great. I feel like everyone from Howell and North Jersey are more excited than I am. There are buses going out to Boston. People I haven’t talked to in years, let alone months, are coming out to support. Some local bars are going to set up the fight to let people watch if they can’t make it. It’s amazing. That makes it a very humbling experience as well. Even though you haven’t talked to these people in years they are still supporting you.

Every UFC event seems to have another competitor making his or her debut for the organization. UFC Fight Night 59 isn’t any different, as Frankie Perez will make his long-awaited first appearance for the promotion, and he hopes to make an impressive showing.

UFC Fight Night 59