Yancy Medeiros details life-changing switch to plant-based diet introduced by Diaz brothers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Yancy Medeiros’ source of fuel has changed and with it his life and fighting career.

The UFC lightweight takes on Lando Vannata this Saturday on the main card of UFC on ESPN+ 25, which takes place at Santa Ana Star Center in Rio Rancho. And heading into his 23rd professional fight, Medeiros (15-6 MMA, 6-6 UFC) has undergone some radical changes in his life that were introduced by his friends and training partners, Nick and Nate Diaz.

“It’s definitely a lifestyle for me being plant-based,” Medeiros told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I’m not vegan. I’m not against people that eat meat. I don’t pay your bills and put food on your table. Who am I to tell you what to eat? But I am empathetic about the world and the animals. I still stay in my lane, right, and my lane is wide, but I just eat plants, and I have nothing against it.

“I’ll live life, you know. I’ll go to Japan, I’ll go try some sushi. I’m very cultural, and I’ll indulge in culture and life, but for the most part plants is the base of my nutrition. And, yeah, it was introduced to me from Nick and Nate (Diaz), and I hold that dearly.”

Medeiros says he feels better than ever, but that’s not the main reason why he’s chosen the plant-based lifestyle.

“It hasn’t just affected me,” Medeiros explained. “It’s affected all my loved ones and my family. If you’re family orientated, you’re always trying to look out for how to serve and how to give back to the people that support you. And seeing my family get healthier and my dad, who lost like 100 pounds just from eating plants, I’m like, ‘How is that not the truth? How is he from 10 medications to just off of all your medications?’ Like, the proof is in the recipe.

“I’ve seen my daughter lose 20 pounds. My dad lost 100 pounds. My mom lost 40 pounds, so it’s like all healthy. No working out, just eating plants. And it’s the truth for me, and I just live that way, and that’s what keeps me at peace knowing that I have all this love and joy and joyfulness around me. They’re going to be with me for a very long time.”

Not only has Medeiros improved his personal life, but he says the effect of a plant-based diet also have poured into his MMA career. Medeiros has experienced weight issues in the past and fluctuated between lightweight and welterweight.

Now, Medeiros is back at 155 pounds and feels like that’s his ideal weight class.

“I was fluctuating in weight because I didn’t have a the right eating habits or the proper nutrition,”  Medeiros said. “And now that I’m eating plants, my body is just much more aligned, and making weight is way more easy. Just going to 155 is a much more natural process, so it’s a healthier version of me. And it was like, ‘Well, he’s going to do this cut,’ but I’m like 10, 15 pounds out already. Like I’m not fully hydrated, but not malnourished. I’m ready to represent.”

The Hawaiian fighter describes this time in his career as a new chapter. Medeiros is excited to take on Vannata, as he has an exciting and wild striking style, which Medeiros is more than ready for.

“He’s going to come and bring it. He always does,” Medeiros said. “Most of the fighters, we all want to win, and I don’t think any of his losses dictate the person he is. He comes in there the same way. Always giving a show, always coming in to bang. He does live up to his name, he’s ‘groovy,’ but this Hawaiian can boogie. And I’m going to show you that Saturday.”