Las Vegas, NV — Pedro Munhoz is stepping into a big fight next month.
The Brazilian bantamweight was the man who raised his hand when Henry Cejudo pulled out of his UFC 292 fight with Marlon “Chito” Vera, and he got the nod. We spoke to Munhoz (20-7, 2NC) shortly after the news broke.
“Yeah I got the fight against Chito, and can’t wait for it,” Munhoz told Cageside Press at UFC X this past Friday.
So did he just call up his manager to let him know that if Chito still wanted to fight, he was game? “That’s exactly what happened,” said Munhoz. “It has been two months since my last fight, feeling great all this time, back in training right after the last fight. I didn’t have an name specifically, and when the situation presented itself I said ‘oh that’s the time now.'”
Of course, being on UFC 292 means Munhoz is fighting on the same night as a bantamweight title fight between Aljamain Sterling and Sean O’Malley. There were rumblings early on that Sterling might not make it to the fight, but Munhoz isn’t overly focused on the possibility of being a back-up/switching bouts should the need arise.
“Chito is a durable, good fighter. So that’s the fight that I’m getting prepared to fight with. But any other situation, I would never say no to a good fight.”
As far as the Vera fight itself, the plan is simple. “I’m going to be right in Chito’s face, try to get the finish, and keep on climbing the ladder towards the goal.”
Taking part in UFC X, meanwhile, the annual fan expo that takes place during International Fighter week, is a “unique feeling,” Munhoz explained.
“It is definitely, it’s a big honor to be a part of UFC for nine years, going to be ten next [year]. And to get all this love from fans, it’s a unique feeling definitely, to be here and be a part of this big show.”
Watch our full interview with UFC 292’s Pedro Munhoz above.
