By Geoff Grammer, Albuquerque Journal
The evolution of Erik “Goyito” Perez continues.
The 24-year-old bantamweight, who has trained at Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA gym for the past five years, is hopeful Saturday’s fight with Bryan Caraway on the first-ever UFC Fight Night card in Albuquerque will continue what has been a steady climb in the sport for the native of Monterrey, Mexico.
“It’s been a very, very good camp,” Perez said. “I’m very excited for this. He’s a good wrestler…I’m ready for that.”
Perez (14-5 overall, 4-1 UFC) is ranked No. 11 in the UFC’s bantamweight division.
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Watch UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs Khabilov Saturday on Sportsnet 360 with prelims starting at 8 p.m. EST and the main card at 10 p.m. EST
He’s become, according to coach Mike Valle, a far more complete fighter since his Aug. 28, 2013, Fight Night loss to Takeya Mizugaki, a split decision defeat in Indianapolis, something he started to show with a unanimous decision win over Edwin Figueroa in November on the UFC 167 card in Las Vegas, Nev.
“It was just a little bit of inexperience that cost us that fight I think,” Valle said of the Mizugaki decision. “But he showed a whole different fighter in November. ‘Goyito’ was more of a complete fighter against Figueroa and he’s been improving every day. Working every day.”
Saturday’s opponent for Perez, “Kid Lightning” Caraway (18-7 overall, 3-1 UFC), a submission specialist who hasn’t fought since April 2013, will present plenty of challenges, but also provide an opportunity for Perez to make a case to be in the top 10 in the division.
“He’s been very good against the B class level fighters in the UFC and I think he’s ready now to show he can not only take on the A fighters in the UFC, but to sustain it and stay in that top 10 for a long time,” Valle said. “I think in another year, he’ll be ready to start talking about competing for a title.”
Valle said Perez’s training camp was successful and they’re ready for whatever Caraway throws at them.
“All I know is if he (Caraway) wants to keep it standing up, he better be ready to scrap standing up,” Valle said. “If he wants to go to the ground, he better be ready to scrap on the ground.”
The 5-foot-8, 135-pound Perez, one of four Jackson-Winkeljon trained fighters on Saturday’s card, knows this is the first time the UFC has come to Albuquerque, a city with a rich fight-town tradition and he doesn’t want to disappoint.
“I want the fans to know that with me, every time I’m fighting with all my heart,” Perez said. “I’m going to go do my best and make Jackson’s MMA proud.”
