Whenever a fighter steps up and challenges for a major title, it’s a special moment, and Pedro Carvalho will experience that thrill Friday night when he challenges Patricio Freire for the featherweight title at Bellator 241 in Uncasville, Conn.
The Dublin-based Portuguese contender is something of an unlikely success story, having arrived in Bellator as a largely unheralded prospect before springing a shock in his debut, then earning a spot in the featherweight grand prix. One win and one “Champion’s Choice” later, Carvalho (11-3 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) finds himself in a title fight against two-division champion “Pitbull” in the first major main event booking of his career.
Ahead of his fight, one of his teammates at Dublin’s SBG Ireland gym, Bellator middleweight Will Fleury, posted a message of support for his teammate and told the story of the unlikely contender’s arrival in the gym and how he proved his worth on the mats to a man who, in all honesty, didn’t think he’d go that far.
This Friday night @pedrocarvalhomma fights for the Bellator featherweight title. The first day I met him a little over 3 years ago he showed up for some open kickboxing rounds, he didn’t give a (expletive) that I was bigger than him so we did 2 rounds before we got new partners.
When I talked to him afterwards he was filled with an energy and passion that made it hard not to like him straight away. So I found out his name and when I got home later that day I looked him up online, at the time he was 5-3, on a two-fight losing streak and hadn’t fought in a while, I remember thinking it was a bit tragic that this guy with (expletive) all hope of getting anywhere was so enthusiastic about moving here and devoting his life to becoming a champion.
Well over the last 3 years he’s been the hardest worker in the gym which has led to him going on a 6 fight winning streak against legit Russian wrestlers, top European prospects and UFC veterans. Now I can’t wait till he brings that belt back to Ireland and I can buy him a pint and laugh about how wrong I was. Get her (expletive) done Pedro. #champion #bellator241″
Obviously, we don’t play favorites and just want to see great fights, but we can’t lie. After reading an anecdote like that, it will be hard not to feel happy for Carvalho if he springs the upset in his title fight.
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
Will Fleury's Pedro Carvalho story might have you rooting for the underdog at Bellator 241