We've had the pleasure to meet with our 145lbs #1 contender, Francisco Garcia. This has been a long time coming, we've been watching him very closely for the past few months, and we're very happy to see him finally fighting for the title.
The 145lbs division at MMA Hype Promotions has been hot since the very first day, but lately has been the target of some controversy. Nevertheless, in less than a month from now, we're going to crown a new champion and move from there.
Here is Jared Asante with Francisco Garcia.
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Jared Asante: Francisco, you’ve built quite the hype ever since you first fought professionally. There’s not many fighters who start at that level, especially at the age of 16. Was it hard to start at such a young age?
Francisco: Hard? Not at all. I was born to do this. While other kids were playing video games or going to parties, I was grinding in the gym. Starting young just gave me a head start to prove I’m better than everyone else. Some people call it pressure—I call it destiny.
Jared: We’ve seen you excel in pretty much all aspects of the game. Do you work hard on your strategies during training camp, or are you more a “go with the flow” type of guy?
Francisco: Strategies? Sure, I work on them. But the truth is, I’m better everywhere. My opponents can try to plan all they want, but it’s like playing chess against someone who already knows your moves. When the cage door closes, I just do what I do best—win.
Jared: You’ve won all your fights in the first round, and against some very good prospects. You are the #1 contender in the 145 division and will take on #2 contender, Geordi La Forge, for the title. What does this mean to you?
Francisco: It means what we’ve all known from the start—I’m the future of this division. Put anyone in front of me, it doesn’t matter who it is. They’re all placeholders. The belt belongs to me, and I’ll show the world why when I step in there.
Jared: Do you plan on fighting in the 145 division all your career, or would you be interested in either going up or down a division at one point in the future?
Francisco: 145 is my home for now, but let’s be real—I’m not just here to dominate one division. I’ll move up, maybe even down if I feel like it. Wherever the biggest challenges or biggest paychecks are, that’s where you’ll find me.
Jared: Going back to your first fight, you got knocked down and rocked early in the fight, but managed to survive and knock out your opponent a minute later. Even though the fight only lasted 2 minutes, was that your biggest challenge yet, or was there another fight where you felt at a disadvantage?
Francisco: Biggest challenge? Nah, that was just a wake-up call. I wasn’t at a disadvantage—I just needed to remind myself who I am. I turned that fight around because that’s what I do. Honestly, my toughest challenge isn’t in the cage—it’s staying motivated while beating guys who don’t belong in there with me.
"People like to label fighters—striker, grappler, whatever. Me? I’m a problem. It doesn’t matter what you bring to the table; I’ll expose you. And when they try to fix one hole in their game, I’ve already found five more."
~ Francisco Garcia
