Frank Camacho motivated to return from two-year layoff at UFC on ESPN 36

LAS VEGAS – After nearly two years away from the game, Frank Camacho returns Saturday.

Camacho (22-9 MMA, 2-5 UFC) has not fought since a 41-second knockout loss to Justin Jaynes in June 2020. But Saturday, after pulling out of two fights since then, he’s back to take on Manuel Torres (12-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in a lightweight bout at UFC on ESPN 36.

Camacho said he’s found motivation in the buildup to the fight knowing he’ll finally be back in the cage with a chance to snap a skid of four losses in five fights.

“Two years off,” Camacho said at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 36 media day. “It was a lot of things I can’t control: COVID, 2020 – is it 2022 already? Last year, I was so stoked to get on the fight card against Matt Frevola and then I got into a car wreck on the 405 (in California). I’m really just soaking it in. I’m just so grateful for the opportunity. … I’m super stoked. I’m super stoked.”

UFC on ESPN 36 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN2/ESPN+.

Check out the full pre-fight interview with Camacho in the video above.