Santiago Ponzinibbio is Taking His UFC Career One Step at a Time

Santiago Ponzinibbio spoke with MMAjunkie about his fight with Zak Cummings at UFC Fight Night 92. Some highlights are below:

On his getting started in MMA: “I never struggled in Argentina, my family was middle-class, and there was always food on our table. But then when I put it in my head that I wanted to search for more knowledge, to explore the MMA world. I packed my bags, went to Brazil and started searching. I didn’t know anyone. I didn’t know where I was going. A friend of mine said, ‘Man, I’m going on vacation to Brazil.’ I said, ‘I want to train jiu-jitsu, and Brazil is where it’s at.’ I didn’t know if we were going South, North, whether they had a team. I didn’t have many resources. I didn’t have money. I didn’t have anything, so I worked with what I could. I did massages at the beach, I sold sandwiches that I made at the beach. When I got my work license, I worked as a barman, as a kitchen assistant. I did absolutely everything. I was making ends meet to try to find a good team to fight. I started winning at boxing, getting things, getting some sponsorships and all. But it was good. It was great.”

On heading to the US: “I was already established in Rio (de Janeiro) and started over in the United States. A new country, a new language. But that’s it. That’s what defines a high-level athlete. A high-level athlete doesn’t stop, they’re always looking to evolve. Whether you’re winning or losing, there are always things to work on. I’m focused on my professional career, and I’m looking to evolve as an athlete. I am aware that, in order to have some things, we need to give up others. That’s life. Of course, it’s not easy. I’ve been through a lot pursuing my dream. I had a dream, a will, but that I’d be living in the U.S., making a career with what I love, with the structure that I have now? Back then I had no way of imagining it. And it’s beautiful, right? I got here with a lot of effort and sacrifice, so for me it’s beautiful.”

On his goals: “I came into the UFC to be world champion, but I know this is not going to happen tomorrow. It’s going to happen in due time. I’m not desperate to fight for the belt. It’s going to come naturally. The UFC is giving me challenges, and I’m taking them. I trust my potential to beat any athlete. I work for this and I take every fight as a test – like the next one, which is yet another step to make it to where I want to be. Obviously, my focus is 100 percent on the next fight, but I’m going to test myself, do my best. If I pass this one, I’ll move on to the next one – until I make it to where I want, which is the belt.”

On Cummings: “He’s got good grappling, good jiu-jitsu. He’s a well-rounded fighter. He’s a big guy, he has fought in upper divisions. He’s a good athlete, a good challenge, a southpaw. It’s a great challenge. But I’m prepared. I’m confident. I know I’m at a level in which I can beat anyone in my division. I’ve been training very hard for years. I’ve been evolving constantly. I’m very dedicated and focused on my career. I’ve been spending all these years training, perfecting myself and getting better. So, honestly, I don’t look at my opponent that much. I did research him to see what he does. He’s good. But I’m focused on myself. I’m not going to look at him too much; I’m going to put on my show.”