Vitor Petrino‘s manager, Derek Brunson, signed him early in his career and after going 2-0 in the UFC, Brunson sees Petrino as a potential champion, with Petrino emphasizing that Brunson is a dedicated and responsive manager who goes beyond just booking fights.
Vitor Petrino’s manager, Derek Brunson, believes that Petrino has the potential to become a UFC champion. Brunson, a former MMA fighter himself, had initially signed Petrino early in his career, but finalizing the deal was not an easy task. However, after Petrino’s success in Dubai, Brunson reached out to him again, promising to put him in the UFC. This led to Petrino being signed for the Contender Series.
The manager-fighter relationship between Brunson and Petrino is strong, despite the language barrier. Petrino praises Brunson for always responding to him promptly and addressing his needs, unlike many managers in Brazil who merely book fights and nothing more. Brunson has transitioned from being a UFC fighter to competing in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), but he has continued to manage Petrino since their initial connection.
Petrino, who currently holds an undefeated professional record of 9-0 with seven finishes, acknowledges the significant potential in his career. Brunson views him as an up-and-coming prospect at light heavyweight for both Brazil and the UFC. With Petrino’s unbeaten record and strong work ethic, Brunson believes that he has the capability to become a future torchbearer for Brazil in the light heavyweight division.
In their upcoming fight on Saturday, Petrino will face Modestas Bukauskas, whom he considers a formidable opponent. Despite Bukauskas’ previous losses in his initial UFC run, he went on to win the Cage Warriors title before returning to the UFC and securing two consecutive victories. Petrino recognizes that Bukauskas is not a fighter who aims to stall and score points but actively seeks to finish fights. He anticipates it to be an exciting matchup, predicting that the fight will not go to a decision due to both fighters’ heavy-hitting styles.
Petrino promises a thrilling fight, where either a powerful strike will land or they will engage in wrestling, potentially leading to a submission. While he remains open-minded about his strategy, Petrino guarantees that he will put on a show for the fans, although he cannot promise a specific outcome. As both fighters have a penchant for finishing fights, spectators can expect an action-packed showdown in the octagon.