Escudero eager to impress
We get thrown out there with the best guys in the world, said Escudero of coming off the hit Reality…
We get thrown out there with the best guys in the world, said Escudero of coming off the hit Reality TV show and into the Octagon. There are no more babies out there in the UFC; you’re in the biggest organization in the world with the best fighters in the world. The Ultimate Fighter is just cutting your teeth, and then you’re introduced to the real world in the UFC. People really don’t know what it’s like to be in the UFC until you’re there.
While there are obvious benefits of emerging from the Spike TV staple as a household name and eventually the title of The Ultimate Fighter, the immediate impact previous cast members had on their divisions ups the ante for fighters like Escudero.
After early winners Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans earned titles – and contestants like Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez and now Josh Koscheck have earned title shots – the expectations are for later winners are raised, and the Tempe, Arizona-based fighter admitted that he feels some of the pressure.
It impacts you, for sure, responded Escudero when asked if the ever-shifting opinions of the fans and media influence registers with him. One day you’re on top of the world – you’re winning fights and the media is all over you, then one day you lose and all of a sudden no one wants to interview you anymore.
In all reality though, we don’t fight for the media – we fight for the sport and we fight for ourselves, continued the 13-1 lightweight. Yeah it’s good to be out there and to be recognized, but you’re doing it because you love it. You can’t let any of [the outside opinions and expectations] put you down.