Edwin Figueroa – Aiming for a Texas-Sized UFC Debut this Saturday in Seattle!

Close your eyes.

Pretend that you are about to face the biggest moment of your life, what you have been waiting and preparing for since childhood, what you feel is perhaps even your birthright.

Try to picture all the emotions running through your head… Anticipation… Excitement… Nervousness… Elation…

Now take that moment, potentially your biggest moment ever, and make it tomorrow, sprung on you with less than one weeks’ notice.

That’s what Edwin “El Feroz” Figueroa has just gone through. A native son of Texas, the 7-0 fighter now becomes the latest from the ranks of Texas MMA’s finest to make it to the big show, getting the call to fight at UFC Fight Night: Seattle against an opponent named Michael “Mayday” McDonald, an 11-1 wrecking ball and WEC-veteran from California who has finished every single fight on his record in devastating fashion.

Talk about a challenge.

This epic bout will pit two strikers against each other in California’s McDonald and our own native son. Both guys have been training to knock people out since they were kids – since ten and six years old respectively. Now both bantamweights are looking to make the statement of a lifetime in their UFC debut.

Can you say knockout of the night candidate? What about fight of the night?

It’s not a stretch to say they might just get one if not both of these UFC awards if the fight goes as expected.

Despite the monumental task ahead of him Saturday, and the more immediate task of cutting weight, Edwin took some time out of his fight week schedule last night to speak to TXMMA.com and address his fans here in Texas prior to the fight.

Thanks for taking the call in the midst of your weight cut Edwin. I know all the Texas fans are excited for your fight at UFC Fight Night: Seattle this Saturday. How does it feel getting your first shot in the UFC?

It feels good. It’s like a dream come true. This is what I always wanted to so since I was a little kid. I always imagined it, you know. I always thought that when I’d finally arrive at this point I’d be in shock and nervous and everything but now that I’m here, it’s like… you know what, I belong here. I don’t feel nervous, I don’t feel anything. I know I belong here and all I have to do is prove it now.

How did this fight come about? Did they (UFC) call you out of the blue?

Yeah, pretty much. They called me with six days notice. I mean, they offered me one before but that fight didn’t go through. Now this one’s perfect. As far as the fight, pretty much our records matched up good. That guy (opponent Michael McDonald) has a bunch of first round knockouts and I have some knockouts also so they (UFC) think it’s going to be the perfect fight.

For our readers, can you take us back to how you got started in MMA?

Yeah. Pretty much I started “real” training about three years ago with the main trainers I have now where I train at Saekson’s Muay Thai. I have all the technique I need right there. Also, another main tool you need in MMA is conditioning. For my own conditioning I train with Marcus Rodriguez over at West Plano Crossfit. That guy puts me through some drills! He’s gotten me into the best shape I’ve ever been in.

Where did your nickname, “El Feroz,” come from?

“El Feroz” means ferocious. I started in boxing when I was six years old and my favorite boxer at the time was “El Feroz” Fernando Vargas. Even now, we kind of have the same style. He didn’t really dance around like other boxers would. What he did was counter-fight and try to pick his spots. As soon as there was an opening, he would just rush you and be vicious to finish fights. That’s always been what I’ve tried to do – move and move and as soon as I see an opening, I’m coming after you. So yeah, that name kind of fit ever since I was a kid.  Even then, my dad would always call me that and it stuck with me.

So you arrived in Seattle yesterday. Who’s up there with you now for this fight?

Right now it’s just Marcus and Saekson. My jiu-jitu guy, Qaiser (Janjua), he’s going to be here Friday.

What do you think about your opponent, Michael McDonald?

I think he’ll be the perfect test for me. He’s got standup as a kickboxing champion and he’s a brown belt in jiu-jitsu also so there’s no easy road but that’s exactly what I wanted. This is the perfect test and I’ll get to see where I’m at… I think I’m going to be good. Especially if he stands with me… <laughs> That’s probably the last thing he should do.

I was about to say… You’re both known as spectacular strikers. Is that what fans can look forward to in this fight; a knockout?

Yeah, pretty much. On paper, that’s how it looks like it’s going to end which is good because what the UFC cares about is exciting fights. There are a lot of casual MMA fans out there that aren’t yet educated about what a guard pass is or what’s a good position on the ground but striking and knockouts – that’s a universal language and anybody can appreciate that.

Well on behalf of all the MMA fans here in Texas, I want to wish you the best of luck Edwin. Any message of your own to the Texas fans before the fight?

Yeah, thanks everybody, I appreciate all your support. Even if I met you once or known you all my life, I appreciate everything, every encouraging word, and I’m going to take that with me into the cage. I’ll make Texas proud, thanks a lot!

My strength is standup and I’m going to do my best to bring an exciting fight for Texas. Also everybody knows where I train so feel free to come to our gym and learn some real striking with us. We’re willing to help anybody out so come on in and check out Saekson’s upcoming seminar.