Standing a remarkable 6-foot-6, Luis Francischinelli could very well be the tallest welterweight competing in professional mixed martial arts today. His striking physical presence, nearly matching that of UFC heavyweight Alexander Volkov, coupled with his demonstrable skills, recently paved the way for a life-altering opportunity in the United States.
Francischinelli is set to compete for his fifth professional victory this Friday, facing Angelo Rivera Jr. at LFA 208 in Santa Cruz, California. Prior to his MMA journey, he was a kickboxer in Brazil striving to establish his name on the circuit. However, progress felt painstakingly slow, especially amid the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the age of 25, Francischinelli and his wife arrived at a momentous decision: they would sell their car and motorcycle to finance a flight to the United States. He reached out to eight random individuals he found on Instagram, seeking insights into what life was like in the U.S. The very first person who replied strongly encouraged him to make the move without delay.
Just 45 days later, Francischinelli landed in California and sought out the renowned Black House gym. Funds were limited, but he managed to cover the cost of training and secure a spot in a shared room. He shared the accommodation with two other men, one of whom he described as “a bipolar man who became my friend and even lent me money to buy a car.”
“It was challenging,” Francischinelli shared, “but I was truly blessed to have good people placed around me.”
Among those helpful individuals was Jorge Guimarães, a prominent manager representing current UFC stars like Alex Pereira and Alexandre Pantoja, alongside legends such as Anderson Silva. A fighter on his team was Alexander Volkov, a top UFC heavyweight preparing for a fight against Ciryl Gane following his knockout victory over Alistair Overeem. Volkov required training partners, and the tall new arrival from Brazil was chosen.
“But he was a heavyweight, and I was weighing around 180 pounds,” Francischinelli recounted. “I’m just tall, that’s the extent of it. They said, ‘Go spar with him.’ I thought, ‘Oh my God!’ but I accepted. I went in and completed three tough rounds with Volkov. People watching were amazed, asking, ‘Who is this kid?’ Joinha [Guimarães] witnessed it and remarked, ‘Okay, we`ve found something promising here.’”
Guimarães subsequently introduced Francischinelli to his business partner, Ed Soares, who is the head of the LFA promotion. Soares extended a contract offer, which was instrumental in enabling Francischinelli to secure a visa and officially commence his professional fighting career in the United States.
“They really did me a favor,” Francischinelli admitted, “because they didn`t fully know my capabilities yet. They saw me train, of course, but countless people train there every day.”
After training at Black House for slightly over a year, Francischinelli transitioned to CMMA to further refine his jiu-jitsu and wrestling skills, culminating in the start of his MMA career. It was during a seemingly ordinary Thursday that the call came: an offer for a middleweight fight on just 48 hours’ notice due to an opponent`s injury. He immediately embraced the opportunity, drove to Commerce, California, successfully made weight, and proceeded to knock out Emmanueli Adzoh in a mere 85 seconds.
In the months that followed, despite facing several fight cancellations, Francischinelli traveled to New York and secured another dominant first-round knockout victory, this time against Ken Burrs. Greg Sun and Victor Kuiks also failed to survive the opening round against Francischinelli, bringing his undefeated professional record to 4-0. He now feels confidently that he is just one victory away from securing a coveted spot in the UFC.
“I was very close to getting on The Ultimate Fighter in May but ultimately wasn`t selected, perhaps because I only had four professional fights at the time,” Francischinelli noted. “However, the UFC management is aware of me now. They are paying attention. And I strongly believe this upcoming fight could be the decisive one that gets me into the UFC.”
“Every single day when I wake up, I reaffirm to myself, `This is the year I`m making it into the UFC,`” he stated with conviction. “I have no doubt it will happen. I believe I possess significant potential, particularly given my extensive background in striking. While I still need to demonstrate more in certain areas, such as the ground game, my wrestling and jiu-jitsu are continually improving. I have all the necessary attributes to deliver exciting performances, to enter the UFC, and ultimately become a champion. I am absolutely certain that will come to pass, and I will be there this year.”
Marcus Blakely