PHOENIX – Francisco Trinaldo will turn 44 later this year, and he thinks his age has opponents misled about what they’re getting into.
Trinaldo (28-8 MMA, 18-7 UFC) took a unanimous decision from Danny Roberts (18-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) this past Saturday at UFC 274. It was his fifth win in six fights against opponents who have been at least six years his junior.
“I love these young kids coming up thinking that I’m old,” Trinaldo said at his post-fight news conference. “I enjoy more than anything in the world all these young kids coming up to me, fighting me, thinking I’m old, and I’m proving them wrong every single time.”
Trinaldo said he thought he would be able to knock out Roberts, but absent that, he’s just glad to get his second straight win.
“I needed a win. I really needed to have a hard fight, and I needed to win. I did what I needed to do,” he said. “… I really thought I was going to knock him out. He’s been knocked out before. I really thought in my head, I didn’t think it was that tough. I really thought I was going to knock him out.”
Trinaldo now is 2-1 at welterweight after moving up from lightweight following a weight cut that went awry in July 2020. Will the new weight class continue to suit him well? Time will tell.
But the Brazilian, who will have his 10-year anniversary with the UFC next month, said he’s loving his job, no matter the division.
“Nothing makes me happier than beating people up,” Trinaldo said. “That’s how I make my living. That’s who I am. Nothing brings a bigger smile to my face than beating people up here in the octagon.”
Check out Trinaldo’s full interview in the video above.
Francisco Trinaldo happy to put on another fan-friendly fight and prove the ‘young kids’ wrong again