Lucas Martins Has No Grudge Over UFC Release

Lucas Martins spoke with MMAjunkie for a new interview. Some highlights are below:

On a possible UFC return: “Of course, the UFC is a great promotion, and I want to come back. Not for me, but for my students, for people around me, my family – to show that I can do it. But it’s not a dream of mine. I’m still training, I’m with Brave, I like it there, they’re great to me. But if (the UFC calls) me I’m ready. I know I’m doing a solid job. I left the UFC on a win. Who else has done that? Those who got left, got cut because they went out on skids. I don’t blame the UFC. It’s their job – they didn’t like mine, and I left. But I’m coming off four in a row, including the last one in the UFC. Who in my weight class has done that in Brazil? Who do I have beat to be able to come back?”

On his improvement since his UFC run: “Unlike many of my training partners, I didn’t start training when I was 12 or 13. I had to learn the hard way. I suffered a lot because of that, and I’ve just now learned how to train. I was always dedicated, but I didn’t absorb things. Now I’m a different athlete. I train wrestling every day, jiu-jitsu. I consider myself an experienced man. I train with great athletes. I’m ready for anyone. I’m taking on these tough guys who were already black belts when I started. I grew a lot after I left the UFC. Today, I’m not just a muay Thai fighter. I’m a well-rounded fighter, coming off two submission wins. I’m waiting. I’m in no rush. I’m still young, and let’s see where this goes.”

On the difficulty of an MMA career outside the major promotions: “It’s very hard to train three, four times a day and live exclusively off of fighting. Because you have to teach classes, have other jobs. I am around fighters who still do that. But it’s not impossible. Thankfully, since I left the UFC, my life hasn’t changed. I’m still focused, doing what I do, training and teaching. What changed was just not being in (the octagon), but I’m still focused as the elite athlete that I am.”

On his UFC release: “I hold no grudges. On the contrary, I want to return so I can show them the type of animal that I am. When I go in there, I’ll knock a lot of people out. I’ll fight anyone. My last fight, I fought the No. 1 guy in Argentina. I’m prepared to fight anyone in my (featherweight) division – or step in for someone in the upper one.”