Las Vegas, NV – A second attempt at a UFC debut for Vitor Petrino who comes into UFC Las Vegas to take on Anton Turkalj on Saturday following his Dana White Contender Series showing.
Petrino’s original UFC debut was supposed to be in December, but his opponent fell out of the fight due to injury.
“Honestly I believe that things happen when it’s time for them to happen so if I didn’t fight in December there’s a reason for it. I just took the time, I got myself few extra months to train and to get better. To come back for this fight as a better version of myself,” Petrino told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.
Having not made that first official UFC debut in December, Petrino mentioned that he did, and didn’t feel like an official UFC fighter yet.
“As much as I consider myself a UFC fighter already because I am on paper, but I know that I need to prove myself. Not just for myself but to other guys. Show what I’m capable of and come Saturday night I believe that I will be a proper UFC fighter in everybody’s eyes,” he said.
Petrino takes on Turkalj who comes off a loss in his short-notice UFC debut against Jailton Almeida but got a full camp for this fight in Las Vegas.
“We watched a lot about Anton. Some fights and everything. We know that he’s very well-rounded fighter he’s not someone that you can say oh he’s a striker or he’s a grappler. He’s very well-rounded and for sure has been working on his craft for quite some time. To be honest I’m not that worried about what he has and what he has improved at or what he has to show,” said Petrino.
“I’m more worried about showing you guys what I have and what I am. Hopefully that’s what I can do on Saturday night.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Vitor Petrino above. He takes on Anton Turkalj at UFC Las Vegas on Saturday.
