Yorgan de Castro is out to make a statement on Friday in the main event of Eagle FC 47.
Unbeaten in two fights since leaving the UFC in 2021, de Castro faces former UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in a three-round bout — and he’s looking to add a huge name to his list of victims in the sport.
De Castro, speaking on a podcast about MMA Fighting, said that he had trained for two weeks with Jon Jones and was told by him to grapple and wrestle with “Cigano” even though his ultimate goal would have been to defeat dos Santos.
“I wanted to brawl it out, but training with Jon Jones, he said I have good wrestling and ground game,” de Castro said. “Junior is a black belt in jiu-jitsu, you have to respect that, but Jon Jones said we have to mix it up. Everything is possible. I have to be careful with Junior’s hands, that good boxing.
“I know I can go 15 minutes on the feet with Junior. Trust my feet and my strong hands. We’ll feel it. If [dos Santos] texts me right now saying, ‘Negao, let’s trade hands,’ I’ll trade with him. In my head, I want to trade hands with him because he has knocked everybody out. Think of Junior beating Junior with KO.
“Junior is a legend and has fought every heavyweight on the planet. He’s the man. But, I believe it’s his time. This .”
will go to me.
Dos Satos will make his first cage walk since he split with UFC after a skid of four fights against elite division fighters. However, de Castro holds de Castro high in the discussion about GOAT with his wins over Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir, Fabricio Werdum. Shane Carwin. And Stipe Miocic.
“I don’t think there’s a bigger name than Junior dos Santos,” de Castro said. “Junior dos Santos could stop fighting right now and he would leave as one of the best of all-time. He was in the UFC for more than 10 years, won and defended the UFC belt. He is a legend. He’s not in his best moment right now, but I still think he’s top-5 best heavyweight of all-time.
” I respect him and love him very much, but I must leave that respect outside [the cage].. I admire him not only as a fighter, but also as a human being.”
De Castro was a new MMA fighter in 2014,, a few years after “Cigano”, who won the UFC heavyweight title. He admits that it is “surreal” to be in a cage alongside him. The talent from Cape Verde admits he was so happy with the offer, he agreed to it even before his manager told him about the purse, which is his main goal in the sport going forward.
“I’m 35. I want money, I want big fights,” he said. I’ve been to the UFC. Everybody needs the UFC. The UFC gives you that pedigree to go to other promotions and make more money. I’m making now more money [at Eagle FC] than what I made in four UFC fights. This is why .”
I am fighting for my money.
