Anthony Guarascio promises vicious finish of champ Bailey Schoenfelder at CFFC 141: 'I have nothing but pain for him'
Guarascio says he has no backup plan for UFC dream and must shine in April 19 headliner in Tampa on UFC FIGHT PASS.
Anthony Guarascio made quite the impression in his CFFC debut, needing just 31 seconds to score a TKO win. For his second appearance for the promotion, he's envisioning something even a little more spectacular, and certainly more vicious.
"This is how I'm fed," Guarascio said. "I was put as a vessel to finish people. That's what this is for. That's what this sport is for. It's not for enjoyment and happiness and things. I'm going out there to hurt somebody's father or family member and go home and smile about it, and it will end that way. It will."
If Guarascio's statements seem a bit intense, it's for good reason. The 31-year-old knockout artist has suffered through low points in his life, homeless just a few short years ago before he realized there was one way to change his future, and his professional fighting career was launched.
It's been going pretty well so far, and Guarascio said it's the realization that he has no other options that have fueled his success, which has not seen any of his first three opponents last longer than 72 seconds with him in the cage.
"I have nothing else," Guarascio said. "I don't have plan B. I don't have a job. I don't have anything. This is it – I don't have a backup. I don't need a damn backup. I don't want one. If you have a backup plan, you're unsure of where you're going.
"If you have two books, you must not be interested in the one you're reading. I like to read one damn book at a time, and my book, it just seems to be one that's written. It's definite, and it's my damn story. There's no curve in it where I lose. There's no curve where my stuff doesn't work out for me. It will work out."
The next chapter in his story comes on Saturday, April 19, when Guarascio (3-0 MMA, 1-0 CFFC) headlines CFFC 141, challenging for the promotion's heavyweight title against reigning champion Bailey Schoenfelder (5-1 MMA, 1-0 CFFC). The card streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.
Schoenfelder claimed the title last April before he received an invitation to Dana White's Contender Series. The Kill Cliff FC athlete failed to secure a UFC contract on the show, and he now returns to the CFFC cage looking to earn another opportunity to compete at the sport’s highest level.
Guarascio has studied the entire journey and is unimpressed.
"Bailey Schoenfelder steps into the same cage that I am – if I'm not mistaken, that's what's happening – it's only inevitable that he is to get finished,” Guarascio said. “It won't go another way. There's nobody that wants it more than I do. I don't care who says they do. There's nobody that wants it more than I do.
“I watch him all the time. I look just to look at him. I do this with every opponent. I look at them just to look at them, just to hate how good they're doing. I do it just to disgust and hate how good they're doing, and it angers me, and when he goes home to nice things and a nice meal, I sit in my garage and I stare and wait and count and count and count and cry and stare and wait and count and count and count and wait and wait and wait."
That wait will end on April 19, and Guarascio says he has no doubt how it will all unfold.
"That night, it ends," Guarascio said. "Viciously it ends. This isn't a fight; this is one career starting and one career ending.
"When I see him, I have nothing to say to him. I have no handshakes for him. I have nothing but pain for him and his family and his team."
So don't expect many high fives and hugs when these two heavyweights collide in the main event of CFFC 141. "The Daywalker" plans on keeping his finishing streak intact, claiming the CFFC title, and he hopes a UFC invite follows shortly after.
For Guarascio, he simply believes the future is already written.
"You will see me fight for the UFC title at one time," Guarascio said. "I'm not worried about the division. I'm not worried about the biggest guy, the baddest guy. They can't say who the biggest and baddest guy is – they ain't even seen me yet, and I ain't the biggest, but I am the baddest."
