MMA fans should not overlook Mike Massenzio.
He may be coming off a loss to Brazilian leg-lock phenom Rousimar Palhares, but that’s no reason to disregard Massenzio as a fighter—he’s an expert wrestler and submission grappler who is poised to make the most of the opportunity he was given on the UFC on FOX 3 card.
His opponent is the stout Czech wrestler Karlos Vemola, a former light heavyweight most famous for steamrolling over Seth Petruzelli in dramatic fashion at UFC 122.
A man of Massenzio‘s abilities isn’t daunted or intimidated by such a man. In fact, he’s actually anticipating the fight on Saturday.
“It’s gonna be a great experience. It’s gonna be pretty exciting,” Massenzio told Bleacher Report.
“[Vemola] is a world-class athlete, big strong guy who comes from a wrestling background too, like myself. My goal is to push the pace and just keep pushing and put pressure on him the whole time. That’s my goal, to keep him thinking and to keep him moving and not so much worry about what he’s gonna do but to make him worry about what I’m gonna do.”
Massenzio is no stranger to the constant grind and pressure that he seeks to put on Vemola. His wrestling background has given him abilities that the common man doesn’t possess.
“I use everything pretty equally, but I’m more wrestling geared. The wrestling base is so dominant in the sport today. I would definitely probably say wrestling is my main base,” he said.
Unfortunately, wrestlers are a much-maligned group in MMA today. There are few things fans enjoy more than demonizing UFC welterweight Jon Fitch or Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren for winning fights by using their wrestling to smother and dominate opponents for the duration of the fight.
It’s an issue in the sport, and it’s one that Massenzio has a strong stance on.
“It’s about winning,” said the 29-year-old New Jersey native.
“Obviously you wanna please the fans and you gotta do what you gotta do but the main point of being out there is to win…Obviously you wanna go for the knockout and go for the submissions to keep it exciting. The more explosive and exciting you are, the better you get paid and the bigger fanbase you have. But when you go out there you’re looking for a ‘W’—that’s No. 1.”
But all this talk of wrestling makes light of the fact that Massenzio is more than a wrestler. He is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and a North American Grappling Association (N.A.G.A.) champion.
“I think BJJ is very important no matter what. The whole tournament scene really helped me a lot to get acclimated to what I’m doing now,” said Massenzio.
The rigors of the wrestling and jiu-jitsu circuits are indeed many and difficult. They have served to make Massenzio that much better of a fighter. He can bear the long days of training as well as the rush of nerves when the cage door closes.
He is prepared for combat, made for combat, and he loves every minute of it.
“To be a part of this whole thing is a great experience, being able to fight in the best organization in the world. The main thing to me is that I wrestled my whole life and what I love about the sport and what I don’t like so much—or not what I don’t like, but what’s different between team sports—and this is that you are one guy out there and you have no one to blame, no one else to point the finger at if you lose. It’s all on you and to go out there one on one and the satisfaction…can’t explain it,” he said.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t love what I do. I wake up every day and I thank God that I’m in the position that I’m in.”
Massenzio‘s passion for competition will fuel him Saturday night at UFC on FOX 3. His loyal teammates and comrades will also be fueling him, to which he is grateful for.
“I want to thank everybody who has supported me and backed me up through my whole career. My manager Mike Constantino, everyone at AMA, everyone down at my facility and everyone else at Iron Horse Fight Team in Newark. It’s gonna be a great fight,” Massenzio said.
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