This Friday at Legacy Fighting Championship 27, undefeated Elias Garcia (4-0) will take on Olympic Gold Medalist, (5-0), in the night’s co-main event, which will be televised on AXS TV starting at 9 p.m. CST.
Garcia is coming off a majority decision victory over MTV’s Caged star, Matt Schnell. Cejudo on the other hand, had to pull from his last scheduled fight at Legacy FC 25 versus Saul Elizondo, due to last minute health issues.
Cejudo is 1-0 since signing with Legacy in August of 2013, but has had issues with making weight. The weight for his debut fight with Hollis had been changed a couple times before the night of the fight, and Cejudo failed to make weight for his last fight and was then pulled from the fight by doctors for health issues he was having related to cutting weight.
When I asked Garcia about the possibility of Cejudo having trouble making weight, Garcia feels Cejudo knows where his weight needs to be now but added, “It’s sort of frustrating knowing in the back of my mind while I’m training hard that this guy might not even be on weight”.
Garcia knows going against an Olympic competitor will not be easy, but considers this fight to be an honor and is ready to be pushed to his limits this Friday. He will try to use his footwork to avoid being taken down Friday night, but knows Cejudo would prefer the fight to take place on the ground. “It would be a mistake to believe that I’ll be able to defend every takedown, so I’m preparing for the worst; and my coaches are constantly putting me in bad positions so it won’t be unfamiliar once I get there”.
A motivated man is a dangerous man, and Garcia is very motivated to fight these days. He uses his family as motivation to fight now, and uses his money earned to put food on the table. Garcia says his family keeps him “…pushing hard day in and day out, no matter how tired or beat up I am.” When asked if he had anything to say to Cejudo before the fight Garcia said, “be on weight. Let’s do the damn thing!”
This should be an exciting fight for the flyweight division. So be sure to get your tickets now or tune into to AXS TV Friday night for Legacy FC 27.
Elias had a few people to thank for helping him prepare for this fight: “God, my coaches Rudy Valenzuela (Kamikaze Fighting Elements), Stacy Jorgensen, Adam Ibarra (Weapons At Hand), and Hector Munoz (Full Contact). My strength and conditioning coach Trey “Treyner” Lopez at 110 Premium Training Plus; sponsors, Rabalais Electric, SWOLLE Fitness Apparel, Hughes Hangar, Pelican Lounge, Dr. Enrique Castro, The Chop Shop, and Smoothie King. Last but not least, my supporters of #TeamSmash and to Legacy Fighting Championship for giving me his opportunity.
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