""I love training under Firas [Zahabi, TriStar head coach], I love getting better every day. I was never dejected, I was never disheartened at any point. I was always, maybe I'm delusional, but I was like 'something good is going to happen.'""
""The only fight I've gone into with the mindset that I need something special to happen was the Contender fight. And it wasn't just so much of my age, it's just like, that show is not a regular MMA show. You're not going in there to get show/win, you're going in there to get a UFC contract.""
Mandel Nallo, a fighter from TriStar, secured a UFC contract after a notable performance on Dana White's Contender Series. Despite a long journey and challenges, including a stint in Bellator during COVID, Nallo remained optimistic about his career. At 36, he became the oldest fighter to earn a contract through the series. Nallo emphasized the importance of delivering an impressive performance, understanding that a lackluster showing could jeopardize future opportunities in the UFC.
Read at Cageside Press
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