Adrian Yanez ready for ‘Fight of the Night’ rematch with Nico Echeverry at Legacy Amateur Series 9

HOUSTON, TX, August 20, 2012 – When you look at the updated fight card for Legacy Amateur Series 9 (listed here), it almost reads as “Metro Fight Club vs. The World.”

Literally almost half the fighters on the LAM 9 card train with renowned coach Saul Soliz at Metro Fight Club.

For those that haven’t been around that long, Saul has trained notables like former champions Ricco Rodriguez and Tito Ortiz in years past.

As time flies though, so do priorities and now Soliz has a new mission: to mold an entirely new roster of high-level mixed martial artists right here in Houston starting from the ground up.

To that end, Saul and the fighters at Metro have worked furiously in the recent past to prepare their latest crop for live action. It’s hard to say what to make of them just given that a large majority of them will be debuting for the very first time but this Saturday could be very telling.

Some of these guys could definitely end up as prospects to watch out for.

One that we have seen before and we count already as a fighter to pay attention to is a young man by the name of Adrian Yanez.

Coming to Metro Fight Club by way of Elite MMA in Baytown, Adrian put himself on the radar with a ‘Fight of the Night’ performance Nico Escheverry at Legacy Amateur Series 6 this past October.

Not satisfied with that, the two will reprise that same bout this Saturday with both looking to showcase their improvements.

We caught up to Adrian recently to get his thoughts on the upcoming rematch.

Interview – Adrian Yanez (Metro Fight Club)

Adrian, tell us a little bit about who you are and how that translates into the cage.

No matter where it is, I strive to do my best and be the best. I love any challenges that get put my way. The only difference is that as a fighter you got to put feelings aside and fight, and also I have the biggest passion to fight. Me as a person, I love helping people in whatever way I can.

Personally I’ve had my little fights in life. The good comes with the bad. I’m just thankful for great family and friends. But with MMA, I’ve been training for a little over three years. I’m a purple belt under Jordan Rivas with Elite MM and now I’m training at Metro Fight Club with Saul Soliz. I’ve loved every single moment that I’ve been a part of Elite and Metro.

Is being a fighter a natural thing for you?

When I see someone I haven’t seen in a while and they ask what I do, when I tell them I fight they got shocked. They say I’m too nice to fight. I laugh cause the look on their faces of being shocked.

How do you think you’ve improved most since you started training?

The most I’ve improved would have to be my striking. But I have improved everywhere.

How do you approach fighting? What goes through your mind when you step into the cage?

The moment I get in there I forget everything around me and focus on what’s ahead. I get that feeling of excitement that I’m living a dream of mine. So when I look at my opponent when the bell rings, it’s no hard feelings but I have to go out there and fight my fight.

Your last fight with Nico Echeverry earned ‘Fight of the Night’ honors. Describe that fight from your point of view.

My last fight with Nico Echeverry was pretty intense. The first round was basically a grappling match, back and forth intense grappling. In the second and third round I just kicked it up a notch and put him on his back and just used a lot of ground and pound. It was a Fight of the Night performance so I was happy but a lot has happened since then. I’ve gotten my purple belt, switched over to Metro, and I’ve been working on anything and everything possible. Everything has improved, especially my striking.

How do you feel about this rematch and fighting Nico again?

He called for this fight which excites me! I feel that it is a good matchup because we both have a lot of heart. He’s self driven, I am too. He has great wrestling, his submissions are good, and his striking is not bad. I would say my striking would beat his and my wrestling and ground game has improved as much as my striking. I’ve changed a lot since our last fight so expect something way different. Nico is a great person, honestly is, very respectful, and hilarious.

What’s changed in how you approach fights at Metro versus how you did at Elite?

This camp has been a lot different from the camp I was in. I’ve been working anything and everything. Not just one area. And trying to keep myself cool, stay calm and collected.

Do you have any predictions for this one?

I see myself with my hand raised at the end. Can’t let him push his game plan, I have to push mine. I push mine and push it well I’ll come out on top.

If you had to give last words to Nico before the fight, what would you tell him?

My last words to him… You suck bro. You absolutely suck! Ha-ha I’m just kidding, the Chael Sonnen thing doesn’t work well with me… Nico, let’s just go out and put up another Fight of the Night performance! Let’s go out and FIGHT!

Any last words before Saturday?

I would like to say thank you for this interview. I would like to say thank you to everybody who has supported me in life and not just in MMA. To my friends and family: I love you guys! Thank y’all for everything! Now for my Dad, Mom, Brother, Sister in Law, my cousin Victor, and the Serrano Family: Thank you all for being there for me. I wouldn’t be in the position I am if it wasn’t for you guys. I’m very grateful for y’all to be in my life. I love you guys!