Alberto Trujillo eyes first-round finish of Santo Curatolo at CFFC 87

Cage Fury Fighting Championships newcomer Alberto Trujillo knows he's wading into Santo Curatolo's backyard this week, but he's not exactly intimidated by the challenge.

"I'm not from California, so every time I fight, even where I live, it's like I'm in somebody else's backyard, as well, so it's not a different thing," Trujillo said. "My last fight in Mexicali, I was on my opponent's home turf, and everything went OK, so I'm not worried about that."

He's also not intimidated by CFFC flyweight champ Curatolo's gaudy professional record: undefeated through five fights, with all five contests ending in the first round.

"I watched a little bit of tape," Trujillo said. "I don't like to go into detail about the opponent because at the end of the day, I'm going to do what I need to do, and I'm not too worried about what he's going to do. I mean, I know he's got good boxing. He's finished all his fights, so I'm happy to take him to the second round if I don't finish him in the first round."

That's right. Trujillo sees no reason he can't finish the increasingly famed finisher in less than five minutes.

To be clear, Trujillo isn't trying to talk trash. The Arkansas native and Navy veteran is simply confident in what he brings to the table, as well. The Alliance MMA product is excited to return to action after spending 13 months on the sidelines and said he knows what it's like to struggle for bookings, much in the same way Curatolo isn't always easy to match up on the East Coast.

"I'd been looking for fights," Trujillo said. "They'd offer me fights, and I'd say yes, and then they'd be turned down. As soon as they mentioned Santo, I looked him up, and he looked like a guy that was in the same mode, so I'm glad they booked the fight."

Champ Curatolo (5-0) and challenger Trujillo (4-1) headline Friday's CFFC 87 event, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. The main event wraps up a two-night run for CFFC in the venue.

Curatolo certainly has big-show intentions, and Trujillo thinks he's on the same path, though he admits he's not necessarily in a rush.

"I feel like I'm still developing," Trujillo said. "My coaches tell me I'm ready, but I'm always trying to improve, so I always have that in the back of my head."

But a big win on Friday could accelerate that journey. Trujillo said he's simply planning on doing what he does best, and if people see the result as shocking, that's entirely on them.

"Obviously I want to put on a good fight," Trujillo said. "But I want to finish the guy, too – if possible in the first round, just so I can rub it in his face a little bit. But the goal is just to get another win and keep moving forward. This is just another fight for me."