Interview with MMA pro Cisco Alcantara

As part of a preview for the October SteelFist MMA card we've chatted with Top of Utah mixed martial artist Francisco "Cisco" Alcantara, who returns to the cage after a while off to meet undefeated Carson Gregory. Alcantara recently trained a few days at Duane Ludwig's gym in Broomfield, Colo., working out with the Bang Muy Thai training system. (Above, from left, UFC fighter T.J. Dillashaw, unidentified fighter, Alcantara and Ludwig.) 

Here's our interview.

Tell me about visiting Colorado, Bang Mui Thai, Duane Ludwig's philosophy on training. How does it help you personally as a mixed martial artist? Who went with you?

Alcantara: Visiting Colorado for 4 days was great. We did two trainings/classes a day at Bang Muay Thai with Duane Ludwick himself showing us the proper way of putting the punches and kicks together. Also we had the opportunity to train alongside TJ Dillashaw watching how an ex-UFC champion trains and puts his combinations together was great and inspiring. We also went to Easton gym to spar with current and up and coming UFC fighters. Let's just say they only have one speed and that's fast and hard. Jon Neal, Gavin Weston, Hayden Brown and Jarrett Kelton all went with me but Jarrett Kelton set it all up for us. He's been helping since day one. (Below, Alcantara, front in last row, lined up for training.)

What is training like for the Gregory fight? You've had a break from the cage. Are you back into the routine well?

Alcantara: Training for Gregory is training to go to war, just like any other war that I've been in. This time I've worked hard to get to a lighter weight: class, 170 pounds. I've never fought at 170 so I will be faster, stronger and healthier than I've ever been in this fight. My mind is clear and I'm still chasing this dream I want to fight in the UFC one day and I honestly think that I can beat any 170-pound man that walks this earth with proper training and God's grace. 

Who is helping you locally train? How is your mindset after a few years away. Are family and friends a support.

Alcantara: I'm back in routine training with Dave Foley Jarrett Kelton and Aldo Oreggia from One Hit (and) West Side. And (I'm training with) Jason Tafoya on striking and mitt work. I'm too old to go in the cage and risk injury or even my life just for nothing. The pay is minimal, I've actually lost money for taking time off of work and paying for blood work and test but to me this is an investment and me stopping Gregory will put me at the top of the division and hopefully move me closer to the Big Show. (Photo below shows Alcantara on the way to making the 170-pound weight.)

Alcantara: My children have been in my corner since day one. They root for daddy win or lose I've had a bad losing streak but it's time to change that and show my friends, family and even my enemies that you can't keep a good man down, that hard work and dedication pays off. I'm will to do anything and everything to win and walk up the ranks to get to the top ... Cisco kid.

My family is traveling from California to watch this fight so I have a lot of pressure to win but I look at it like this, regardless. I'm coming to win. I just need to make it pretty for them. I'm dedicating this fight to The Lord and Savior that has kept me alive and well through the hard times that life brings.

Back to us: Good luck Cisco on fight night. We extend that same wish to all the competitors. And thanks again Cisco, for speaking with us. I still recall your win over Mike Crisman a while back as one of the best fights I have seen.

Results to the last weekend's Fierce Fighting Championship card in Tooele are at Fighting Out of Net Facebook page (here).  Results included Antonio Arroyo stopping Trever Carlson in round one, David Putvin stopping Cy Nelson, and Nate Kearsley winning a majority decision over Tanner Cowan. In amateur title bouts, Aaron Thomson stopped Ali Farkhar and Zac Cavender stopped Justin Oswald.

ONE MORE THING: Professional Trever Bradshaw announced on social media that he's fighting on a SteelFist card on Dec. 9.

BOXING:

Two amateur cards. Saturday night, Oct. 7, at Foley's gym in Ogden, a host of amateur fights start at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6. Info in the poster below. 

And All Heart Gym has scheduled an amateur card on Oct. 21, doors open at 5 p.m, at the Legacy Events Center in Farmington. Here's a poster below. Brad Davidson will be announcing the card.