Vitor Petrino is a fighter known for embracing specificity. His meticulous attention to detail has contributed to his stellar start in the field, with an unblemished 9-0 record. His exceptional performance has secured him a place on the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight roster. At 26 years old, Petrino, a Dana White’s Contender Series graduate, prepares to stake his undefeated record on a fight with Modestas Bukauskas. The match is part of the UFC Fight Night 231 undercard, which will take place on Saturday at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. As he moves towards more significant opportunities at 205 pounds, Petrino intends to rely on his tried and true strategies, confident that results will manifest themselves.
Petrino shared, “I’m a guy who enjoys the process. I love what I do, training MMA every day. This is truly a dream come true. I always go into my fights feeling happy. We always aim to give the best possible performance. I look for knockouts and submissions. In the end, I’m mainly looking to enjoy myself and to give the most of me at that moment. Being undefeated is just a consequence of doing good work. I do my best never to lose, but if one day I do lose, I’ll accept it. That’s our game, and those are the consequences.”
Bukauskas, a two-time Cage Warriors Fighting Championship titleholder, approaches the fight on a four-match winning streak. His last appearance was at UFC on ESPN 47, where he clinched a unanimous decision from Zac Pauga on June 17. The 29-year-old fighter has achieved a 3-3 record over his two stints in the UFC. Petrino anticipates a thrilling fight. He said, “We both enjoy the adrenaline that comes from striking. We love banging it out. We give all we have. That’s why I’m happy to be facing him next. I’m a big believer in my game. I’m very tough and strong. Plus, I’m much more versatile. I know that Modestas is very tough, but I’m more complete.”
Trainings are held for Petrino at the CM System camp. This gives him daily interactions with world-class coaches and training partners, including Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace, Cristiano Marcello. Petrino stated, “We never stop. We’re in constant evolution. I don’t look to only get better in one area. I’m always looking to refine my entire skill set. I train wrestling with our entire team. Whether we win or lose, the goal is to always show up with better skills in every fight.” Petrino sees his upcoming fight with Bukauskas as an opportunity for advance. “With another win, we’ll see,” he pointed out, hoping to renew his contract and probe what the UFC has in store. He expressed his passion to fight, aim high, and compete with the top names in the weight class, with his sights set on the belt.