Late opponent change no bother for Paul Capaldo as he chases childhood dream

Featherweight prospect Paul Capaldo may be just 24 years old, but he is hoping his UFC invitation doesn't lie too far on the horizon.

"I know the level that I'm at, and I just want to be in the UFC," Capaldo said. "Every time I see someone, they ask me, 'When are you going to be in the UFC?' I'm like, 'I don't know. Hopefully soon.'

"This has been a goal of mine since I was like 10 years old. Sometimes it gets frustrating because I'm training and I'm training, and I know I'm not old, but it's like time is going by quick, and it's crazy. The older you get, the more you realize that, I think."

Capaldo's journey has been impressive thus far. Following an undefeated amateur career, the Nick Catone MMA product has built a perfect professional record, as well. But things slowed down for him in 2020, first due to COVID-19 and then due to injury, and he was only able to compete once during the year, picking up a decision win over Jamal Johnson in August.

He was hoping to compete again in December, but luck wasn't on his side.

"The last week of sparring, I lat dropped this kid in my last round, and normally when you lat drop someone, your opponent's body hits the floor first, and then it kind of covers your fall," Capaldo recalled. "I lat dropped this kid, and I did a back arch, and I landed directly on my shoulder, and he landed on my shoulder, too, and my AC joint was really, really messed up. Like, I couldn't even lift my arm above my head, and I didn't want to risk going into the fight being that injured. I was so upset about it.

"I finished out the round, but I felt it immediately. It felt like something popped in my shoulder, so I was kind of moving around with my arm down. The kid I was sparring with was like, 'I thought you were doing that to show off.' I was like, 'No, dude, I can't lift my arm up right now.'"

Fortunately for Capaldo (5-0), intense rehab was enough to heal the joint, and he said he feels better than ever ahead of Friday's CFFC 95, where he takes on Chris Vasil (4-1) in the night's co-main event, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Philadelphia's 2300 Arena.

Vasil, who stepped into the fight on one week's notice, is the third opponent Capaldo has prepped for at CFFC 95, but he insists he isn't bothered by the changes.

"I need to get in that cage, so I just said whoever they gave me, whoever they named, I'm always down to fight anyone," Capaldo said. "I put in the work. I was training hard for this fight, so I'm ready."

A win could potentially earn Capaldo a shot at the CFFC title, which he says would be an honor after spending his entire professional career with the promotion. But ultimately, he's hoping he gets a call from the UFC with an impressive victory.

"To be in the UFC has been a goal of mine since I was like 10 years old, so there's nothing that can stop me from losing that passion," Capaldo said. "This is going to be the best version of me. I feel as if this was my best training camp out of all of my fights, so expect me to win."