Drexel University wrestling coach C.J. LaFragola knows there's no more hiding his skills ahead of CFFC 126 (Copy)
Welterweight prospect understands the scouting report is out on what he brings to the cage in his journey to the UFC.
A lifelong wrestler, C.J. LaFragola knows his grappling skills will always be a core focus in his MMA gameplans. Now, he's pretty sure all of his future opponents will, too.
"There's certain skills that I always have in my back pocket," LaFragola said. "Wrestling is my base. I mean, I can't hide that anymore. People know that."
Scouting reports in MMA's amateur ranks can be a little tough to piece together sometimes. Finding tape to study can be a little challenging, opponent switches aren't uncommon, and athletes are generally so focused on their own preparation and development that creating custom gameplans often takes a backseat.
Perhaps with an element of surprise on his side, LaFragola went 5-0 as an amateur before making the leap to the professional ranks earlier this year, scoring a decision win at June's CFFC 120 in Atlantic City – just a few miles away from his hometown of Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. LaFragola's wrestling base, which saw him qualify for the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships on three occasions as a member of the Brown University Bears, was on full display.
It's a skill he continues to refine even outside of his current MMA training as an assistant wrestling coach at Drexel University.
"This is like part of my lifestyle now," LaFragola explained. "It's go to work, wrestle with the kids, train. That's part of my training at this point – wrestle with the guys, coach the guys, travel with the guys – and it's cool. I'm part of a team again.
"You know, I started my amateur career before Drexel, so I guess I was kind of missing that team bond. Even though we have our MMA team at Nick Catone's, the team bond that you have with a wrestling team is super unique. I'm training, competing. They're training and competing, and I think we both kind of motivate each other and kind of push each other, and I think when the kids see me doing well, it encourages them to kind of follow the same path, so I think it's been a great experience."
Now, LaFragola said, the key to finding continued success with the cat is out of the bag will be for him to round out the rest of his arsenal without ignoring his foundation.
"My biggest thing is always just continue on trying to blend stuff together more," LaFragola said. "When you see these guys that are the most effective, they can go low, high. They can strike into the takedown. They can go takedown into strikes, so it's just keeping the guy guessing, and up, down.
"I always say it's like changing the guy's eyes, you know? With takedowns or with strikes, in both aspects. That's really been the focus recently."
LaFragola is ready for his next test, as he travels to Florida to face fellow undefeated prospect Alonzo Turner (2-0) on the main card of UFC 126, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS on Friday, October 13, from Tampa's Florida State Fairgrounds.
LaFragola is excited to make the journey and is prepared for a stern challenge.
"I think this is a good test," LaFragola said. "This is outside of a driving fight now. Every fight I've had so far has been a driving distance, so it's going to be a good test, a good learning experience. Like everything we do in there, all this is experience. I mean, obviously these ones matter a little more because they're professional, but at the end of the day, we're learning. We're developing. We're growing, hopefully to eventually make that jump to the big leagues.
"Cage Fury, you're not going to get the easy opponent. You're not going to get the guy that's 0-5 just to pad stats, so I just look to go in the cage and do what I do, utilize my tactics. I'll just go in there and execute my gameplan."
LaFragola knows there's much work to be done before being invited to the sport's highest level, but he's intent on making it there. A CFFC 126 victory will provide him another building block on that journey, and he's excited to see how he can perform given the growing challenges.
"I always go out there to put on a show for my friends and family," LaFragola said. "I always want to just leave it all out there in the cage, and I just appreciate all the support from my fans and friends. I'll always try to fight for people that have supported me this whole way."
