Heavyweight champ Greg Velasco excited to defend belt at CFFC 117: One round or all 25 minutes, I'll be ready
For Greg "The Viking King" Velasco, his last fight at this past October's CFFC 113 was a learning experience, and one that has helped him prepare for his upcoming appearance at Friday's CFFC 117.
Though he holds multiple submission wins under his belt, Velasco experienced a full four-round fight at CFFC 113, where he ultimately claimed the vacant heavyweight title via decision against Kevin "King Kevi" Sears. Despite not getting the finish, Velasco said he thought he was still as dominant as ever.
"I was definitely a little disappointed right after the fight not being able to get the finish for my fans and the crowd there who were supporting me, but at the same time, I was very grateful for the learning experience and getting to get all those rounds in," Velasco said. "Being able to dominate and push the pace the whole fight and into the championship rounds was a great experience for me since the rest of my fights never got to go the distance."
Velasco had his pro debut at CFFC 97 in May 2021, where he won via first-round TKO. Then he showed his grappling dominance in the cage with his next three victories all coming via submission. With an undefeated record, Velasco proved himself a top prospect on the regional MMA scene, dangerous both on the feet with his impressive finishes and on the ground with his quick submissions. After winning the CFFC heavyweight title in his last outing, Velasco (5-0) now faces Ronald Coleman (3-0) while seeking his first title defense on Friday night at Philadelphia's 2300 Arena.
The action streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS.
With both the title and his undefeated record on the line, Velasco said the pressure is one he doesn't like to focus on.
"I honestly try to not let those things get into my head with fights," Velasco said. "I look at every fight I have the same and try to just keep focused on the gameplan my coaches and I work on throughout the camp and leave all the outside noises and distractions alone."
On Friday, "The Viking King" will stand across the cage from Coleman, an impressive heavyweight who is a finisher just like Velasco. On paper, the fight is squaring up to be Velasco's toughest challenge yet, but for the reigning champion, he is more than excited to get back in the cage to face a challenge like Coleman.
"Fighting a very tough opponent like Ronnie definitely excites me because as a fighter, these are the fights that motivate you to push past your limits even more and constantly look to improve your skills and techniques," Velasco said. "And with this fight, it can definitely go either way. It can either be an early night or definitely a full-fight war, but I'll be ready fight night no matter what – one round or all 25 minutes."
ARTICLE BY SERENA GARCIA