Brazilian flyweight prospects Marcos Degli and Matheus Severino view their LFA 212 interim title bout in Brasilia as a crucial step towards a UFC call-up, each confident in their strategy and eager to prove themselves in a high-stakes match.
Brazilian flyweight prospects Marcos Degli and Matheus Severino have been making waves in the regional scene for years. They view Friday’s LFA 212 interim title bout in Brasilia as more than just a shiny belt on the line.
Degli clinched the interim title with a brutal left hook knockout over Lincon Santos in February, boosting his MMA record to 12-3 with 11 finishes. Oscar Miguel was supposed to be next, but Severino stepped in on three weeks’ notice after quickly dispatching Alan Gabriel in May.
The lineal champion, Eduardo Henrique, is set to defend his belt in late August against Devon Lozej in Ventura, Calif. Both Degli and Severino, highlighted as Brazilian prospects to watch, don’t foresee an immediate unification bout—they anticipate a call to the UFC in 2025.
“It’s the most important fight of my career,” Severino said. “I’ve been fighting for over 10 years, and it’s my turn now. A win could set up a unification bout with ‘Chapolin’ [Henrique], or maybe I’ll head straight to the UFC, perhaps a spot on the Contender Series.”
“UFC is my goal,” he continued. “I believe a win tonight will get me signed. I’m more mature and experienced now, ready to put on great fights and have a long career there.”
Degli, with 11 amateur fights under his belt—including a win over future UFC talent Andre Lima—has won his last 10 as a pro. He believes one more victory will secure his spot in Dana White’s promotion.
“It’s a fight between two hyped athletes,” Degli remarked. “He’s 14-4, I’m 12-3 with 10 wins in a row. This will be my 11th. That should push me further. We focus on one fight at a time. Win this one. The future’s uncertain, so we live in the present.”
Dreaming of a UFC shot is pointless if they can’t deliver in Brasilia. Neither expects an easy night.
“I’m not thinking of this as a title defense,” Degli said. “I fight like any other fight. No extra weight on me.”
“Severino took the fight on three weeks’ notice, and even though he’s back in training, making weight’s a battle,” he continued. “He won’t push the pace for five rounds. I’m more explosive, a knockout artist. The UFC likes finishers, and I believe we’ll catch him in the third round.”
Severino, stepping in as a replacement, doesn’t see it as short notice. He expects Degli to struggle with his style.
“I see myself finishing this fight on the feet or submitting him,” said Severino, brother to former UFC fighter Igor Severino. “It’s a five-round fight, so I can’t let him get comfortable. He improves as opponents tire. I’ll go for the knockout.”
Degli fully disagrees.
“He’ll come for all or nothing,” Degli said. “That Chute Boxe style—they’re brawlers. I plan to frustrate him with my movement. He’ll try to explode early, and that’ll cost him. We’ll drown him. He’ll be excited about the belt, but I don’t have that emotion. The belt’s already mine. I’ll just go in and catch him.”