Efrain Escudero: A Knack For Knocking Off 'Next Big Things'
Efrain Escudero: A Knack For Knocking Off 'Next Big Things'
Former UFC fighter Efrian Escudero is happy being the big test fighters need to reach the biggest stages in MMA.
By Shawn Smith
It seems crazy to think that just three weeks ago, Arizona's Efrain Escudero was in Moscow, Russia, fighting for EFN, a growing promotion in Eastern Europe. After losing a unanimous decision to Akhmed Aliev, Escudero came away relatively unscathed and ready for another fight.
This has become Escudero's reality as a 31-year-old veteran of the UFC and a former winner of the promotion's reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter." He takes fights whenever he's feeling healthy, unafraid to travel to other fighters' home towns.
He's a road warrior now, using his skills and fame to travel the world in search of his next victory. His last three fights alone have seen him travel to Russia, Japan, and Belgium. As he continues to grow into veteran status, Escudero is focused on enjoying the ride more than he did as a young fighter.
"I used to put a lot of pressure on myself that if I lost, I wouldn't be in the UFC; I would fight not to lose," Escudero said. The last three fights have taken me around the world. All those fights are paying good money; I'm making a living and getting to travel. What other job allows me to do that?"
Up next for Escudero will be Fabricio De Assis Costa Da Silva, better known as Fabricio Guerreiro. The two will face off in the headliner at Conquer FC 3, taking place Saturday, March 18, in South Richmond, California, and streaming LIVE on FloCombat.
Guerreiro is looking to continue to make a name for himself off the UFC veteran. Escudero, of course, has made a name of his own in stomping out such fighters.
Most prominently was Phillipe Nover, who Dana White called "the next Georges St-Pierre" during "The Ultimate Fighter" season 8 while others compared him to a young Anderson Silva. White went as far as to say "I haven't seen a kid with this much raw talent in the history of 'The Ultimate Fighter.'"
Escudero had other plans, smothering the flashy attack of Nover and securing the season victory.
"I've fought so many guys who were the next big thing," Escudero said with a laugh. "Remember the TUF finale? Dana White called him the next Anderson Silva. Then it was always about him and how he was going to beat me. They have that pressure in that situation, and the promotion puts pressure on them. What have I got to lose? Nothing."
He did the same thing to Koshi Matsumoto in September. And Nelson Carvalho in December. Ask Juha-Pekka Vainikainan about it, the Finnish-born fighter who Escudero stopped on a European card in May of 2014. Or ask Marcus Edwards, who Escudero beat in his home state of Colorado in June of 2013.
The Mexican-born veteran was complimentary of Guerreiro but believes he can do what he's done to so many other fighters looking to use his name for a boost.
"He's got a nice record, but most of his wins are in small promotions; he's got a bit of a padded record," Escudero said. "That's not to say he isn't good, but he hasn't fought the caliber of opponents that I have."
A five-fight Bellator veteran, Guerreiro is eyeing for another opportunity on one of the big stages of mixed martial arts. He'll be looking at this as a stepping stone. For Escudero, who has now had three separate stints in the UFC, that pressure doesn't exist. He's just having fun.
"Right now I don't really care to be back in the UFC, because I'm enjoying this," Escudero said. "One of the things I always ask myself is why I fight. I could have quit a done a regular job. My window of opportunity to fight is right now. Every minute that window is closing. I have to enjoy this every single day. I have to take this one day at a time."
In fact, Escudero did come very close to quitting the sport.
After coaching "The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2," he sat down with Benson Henderson and coaches from the MMA Lab in Arizona, telling them that he was done with the sport.
"But after a month of being out of the gym, it hit me that I couldn't stay away," Escudero said. "My passion and desire to do this right now is greater than what my regret would be later in life if I didn't do this."
So, he kept on. At 26-12, it's been an up-and-down career for the former All-American wrestler. As a single parent, he always has his eye on a post-fighting career, which will include the Bachelor of Science in criminal justice he received in 2011 from Grand Canyon University. He's not in a rush though.
The MMA Lab, where he's spent his entire MMA career, has daycare for his 4-year-old daughter. This allows him to keep chasing the dream of fighting, traveling the world and living without regret.
He's not shy to say that wrestling saved his life, taking him off the streets and away from the gangs that were leading him down a dangerous path. Once his daughter showed an interest in wrestling, he enrolled her in class.
"[Wrestling] made me into a competitive individual; I can see that in my daughter and I'm proud to be where I'm at," Escudero said. "The only thing I've never achieved in the UFC is a world title. Other than that, I look at my MMA career and I still can't believe what I've done."
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It seems crazy to think that just three weeks ago, Arizona's Efrain Escudero was in Moscow, Russia, fighting for EFN, a growing promotion in Eastern Europe. After losing a unanimous decision to Akhmed Aliev, Escudero came away relatively unscathed and ready for another fight.
This has become Escudero's reality as a 31-year-old veteran of the UFC and a former winner of the promotion's reality show, "The Ultimate Fighter." He takes fights whenever he's feeling healthy, unafraid to travel to other fighters' home towns.
He's a road warrior now, using his skills and fame to travel the world in search of his next victory. His last three fights alone have seen him travel to Russia, Japan, and Belgium. As he continues to grow into veteran status, Escudero is focused on enjoying the ride more than he did as a young fighter.
"I used to put a lot of pressure on myself that if I lost, I wouldn't be in the UFC; I would fight not to lose," Escudero said. The last three fights have taken me around the world. All those fights are paying good money; I'm making a living and getting to travel. What other job allows me to do that?"
Up next for Escudero will be Fabricio De Assis Costa Da Silva, better known as Fabricio Guerreiro. The two will face off in the headliner at Conquer FC 3, taking place Saturday, March 18, in South Richmond, California, and streaming LIVE on FloCombat.
Guerreiro is looking to continue to make a name for himself off the UFC veteran. Escudero, of course, has made a name of his own in stomping out such fighters.
Most prominently was Phillipe Nover, who Dana White called "the next Georges St-Pierre" during "The Ultimate Fighter" season 8 while others compared him to a young Anderson Silva. White went as far as to say "I haven't seen a kid with this much raw talent in the history of 'The Ultimate Fighter.'"
Escudero had other plans, smothering the flashy attack of Nover and securing the season victory.
"I've fought so many guys who were the next big thing," Escudero said with a laugh. "Remember the TUF finale? Dana White called him the next Anderson Silva. Then it was always about him and how he was going to beat me. They have that pressure in that situation, and the promotion puts pressure on them. What have I got to lose? Nothing."
He did the same thing to Koshi Matsumoto in September. And Nelson Carvalho in December. Ask Juha-Pekka Vainikainan about it, the Finnish-born fighter who Escudero stopped on a European card in May of 2014. Or ask Marcus Edwards, who Escudero beat in his home state of Colorado in June of 2013.
The Mexican-born veteran was complimentary of Guerreiro but believes he can do what he's done to so many other fighters looking to use his name for a boost.
"He's got a nice record, but most of his wins are in small promotions; he's got a bit of a padded record," Escudero said. "That's not to say he isn't good, but he hasn't fought the caliber of opponents that I have."
A five-fight Bellator veteran, Guerreiro is eyeing for another opportunity on one of the big stages of mixed martial arts. He'll be looking at this as a stepping stone. For Escudero, who has now had three separate stints in the UFC, that pressure doesn't exist. He's just having fun.
"Right now I don't really care to be back in the UFC, because I'm enjoying this," Escudero said. "One of the things I always ask myself is why I fight. I could have quit a done a regular job. My window of opportunity to fight is right now. Every minute that window is closing. I have to enjoy this every single day. I have to take this one day at a time."
In fact, Escudero did come very close to quitting the sport.
After coaching "The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America 2," he sat down with Benson Henderson and coaches from the MMA Lab in Arizona, telling them that he was done with the sport.
"But after a month of being out of the gym, it hit me that I couldn't stay away," Escudero said. "My passion and desire to do this right now is greater than what my regret would be later in life if I didn't do this."
So, he kept on. At 26-12, it's been an up-and-down career for the former All-American wrestler. As a single parent, he always has his eye on a post-fighting career, which will include the Bachelor of Science in criminal justice he received in 2011 from Grand Canyon University. He's not in a rush though.
The MMA Lab, where he's spent his entire MMA career, has daycare for his 4-year-old daughter. This allows him to keep chasing the dream of fighting, traveling the world and living without regret.
He's not shy to say that wrestling saved his life, taking him off the streets and away from the gangs that were leading him down a dangerous path. Once his daughter showed an interest in wrestling, he enrolled her in class.
"[Wrestling] made me into a competitive individual; I can see that in my daughter and I'm proud to be where I'm at," Escudero said. "The only thing I've never achieved in the UFC is a world title. Other than that, I look at my MMA career and I still can't believe what I've done."
How to Watch Conquer Fighting Championships 3
On TV: Now Available on Roku & Apple TV 4
STREAMING: Available only on FloCombat. Sign up today for $20 monthly or $150 yearly. Yearly FloPRO access gets you premium content and events from ALL FloSports sites, including FloWrestling, FloBoxing, and FloGrappling.