Chris Camozzi in a whirlwind

u know how many people wanna fight Jacare on 6 days notice? 1!!!!

Dana White

Chris Camozzi has been on one long, strange trip in mixed martial arts. He went 12-3 in MMA and fought his way into TUF 11. He broke his jaw in the process (the other guy was worse) and was off the show, but was brought back for the finale, and won. Then he beat Dongi Yang. Then he lost to Kyle Noke, and was released.

He fought Joey Villaseñor next, in Shark Fights. That was announced as a draw, but someone added the judge’s scores wrong, and it was changed to a split decision win.

That was enough to get him back in the UFC.

He lost his return fight, vs Francis Carmont, but they kept him on this time, and he won four in a row.

Then Costas Philippou got hurt preparing to fight Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza and Camozzi stepped up on short notice. He lost that one, and then the next three, and was released again.

He got two first round wins, and then it was deja vu all over again.

Camozzi heard Romero was out, and posted on The UG that he’d take another shot at Jacare. UFC matchmaker Joe Silva saw his post, and the man is back.

I’ve got everything to gain, and ‘Jacare’ has everything to lose, said Camozzi to MMAjunkie. I don’t understand why guys wouldn’t take this fight. We’re paid to fight, not get sponsors and post on social media. Our main job is to fight. All that other stuff is extra. When you’re called to fight, you should fight. For me, everything’s upwards from here.

It’s a whirlwind. I’ve been fighting for a long time now, and taking this one on short notice like I did before, it’s all matching up for me to change the outcome of the first one. It’s a chance at redemption for me.

I talked to my management and everybody, and they all said, ‘This is a chance you can’t pass up.’ He’s the No. 1 contender. It’s a good opportunity for me to jump the ranks.

I’m 10 times the fighter I was a couple years ago. I’ve been in the sport 10 years, but even a couple years ago, I still feel like I was trying to find my way. … I used to walk in and be the best guy in the gym, and now I have to fight for that. It just builds me as a fighter. It makes me have to go hard in training and sometimes have to overcome adversity, even in the gym. I think all the tools are there for me to win.

When he is not training at Factory X or on The UG, Camozzi owns and operates the MMA gear and clothing distribution company Performance MMA:

4731 S Santa Fe Circle

Unit 1-B

Englewood, CO 80110

No matter what you do, DON’T click on the image below and order something cool.