Claudio Puelles’s desire to become one of the best in the UFC is not just for himself and those around him.
The 26-year-old prospect has been steadily climbing up the UFC lightweight ranks and on Saturday night he took another step forward in his fighting career. Puelles (12-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) submitted veteran Clay Guida in the first round of their co-main event bout at UFC Fight Night 205 in Las Vegas.
Puelles set a record with his submission win, as he has the most kneebar finishes in UFC. It’s a nice accolade to his career as well as a good name for his resume.
“The only way to become a legend is beating a legend,” Puelles said in Spanish at the UFC Fight Night 205 press conference. “Obviously, I’m not saying I’m now a legend at this moment, but I know I will be at the end of my career. I’m a standout already in Latin America and definitely in Peru, I’m No. 1. For me, what matters is to keep moving forward, keep climbing.”
Puelles is now on a five-fight winning streak. His only defeat in the UFC came in 2016 in his promotional debut, which also served as the final of season three of “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America.”
“The Peruvian Prince” hopes his success inspires other Peruvian athletes aspiring to make their mark in MMA.
“I’m very interested in promoting MMA in my country,” Puelles said. “I’m a big believer that we have a lot of talent. We just need to change the chip and become dedicated athletes. We need to have it clear that in this career you can get to the top and I’m proving that for the younger fighters so they can see it’s possible. They can get on this path if they really want it.”
https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2022/04/ufc-fight-night-205-news-claudio-puelles-to-inspire-peruvian-fighters-with-his-career