Freddy Assuncao fights Cody Bollinger at Titan FC 34 this Saturday on UFC Fight Pass. The featherweight fight will most likely decide who gets the next shot at the Titan FC Featherweight Championship.
For Assuncao, there’s more on the line than extending his current win streak to eight and earning a title shot.
“The eventual goal is to become a champion and join my brothers in the UFC. I want to make history by being the only three brothers to fight in the UFC,” Assuncao told Last Word.
Freddy is the twin brother of current top UFC featherweight Raphael Assuncao and younger brother of former UFC fighter Junior Assuncao. Freddy made his MMA debut in 2009, five years after his brothers took their first steps into the cage.
“It wasn’t easy for myself because when I started training, they were already professional fighters. I got beat up a whole lot. Just for me to be able to train with them, it was a big challenge.”
Having two high level professional fighters as brothers does have its advantages though according to Freddy.
“It helps a lot. It’s a cool thing because not only do we push each other really hard but we also take care of each other. It’s not like I’m going to go there and hurt him, but I’m going to push him and get him tired. It’s definitely cool.”
Carrying the last name Assuncao puts a large amount of pressure on Freddy, as well as a good target for opponents to make a name off of.
“It made me a lot tougher of a fighter because of the last name. I’ve never had any easy opponents. People and my family always expect me to do well in fights because of my brothers. It made me a much tougher fighter, So it kind of worked out in the long run.”
Freddy knows that even though getting into the UFC is the eventual goal, being successful in the octagon is the way to earn a solid living from the sport.
“I want to be a champion, provide a good future for my family. That’s my ultimate goal, to make the big show and be champion. I’m 32 but I haven’t been fighting for long or taken a lot of damage. I believe I can still fight competitively for a lot more years. ”
Beating Cody Bollinger at Titan FC 34 is the first step for Freddy to accomplish all of the expectations that he, his family and fans have for him as an Assuncao.
” I don’t have anything against Cody, he’s a great fighter. I don’t have anything personally against him. He’s one more step to get to where I want to go.”
Titan FC 34 takes place in Kansas City, Missouri with the main event being a Lightweight Championship fight between current champion Pat Healy and Mike Ricci. The fight card airs on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 7pm EST.
