\u201cIt was destiny. I truly believe that.\u201d <\/p>\n
Brando Peri\u010di\u0107 will make his UFC debut in Perth in September. Photo \/ Annaleise Shortland<\/p>\n
Early in his career, Peri\u010di\u0107 developed a reputation for his explosive striking style in the ring. However, he knew that to get to the top level in mixed martial arts,<\/a> he would have to do more than just the stand-up element. <\/p>\n While he was training in wrestling and jiu-jitsu back at home, a chance sparring session at Auckland\u2019s City Kickboxing gym in 2022 opened him up to a whole new world. <\/p>\n It came after Peri\u010di\u0107 jumped at an opportunity to compete in an eight-man elimination tournament on King in the Ring, New Zealand\u2019s premier kickboxing show. He won his first-round fight by stoppage, before being stopped by eventual winner David Tuitupou. <\/p>\n \u201cI beat the winner a few months prior and I came back and I tried to fight him again. I didn\u2019t train,\u201d he laughs. <\/p>\n \u201cI learnt a lot of lessons; that I\u2019m not top shit and I have to train, you know what I mean? I just knew I had talent and that I had to work hard.\u201d <\/p>\n Things might not have gone his way that night, but the next day he made the trip to City Kickboxing\u2019s gym in Mt Eden to take the opportunity to get some work in with some of the country\u2019s UFC stars, something his coaches had suggested he do while in town. <\/p>\n It was a sparring day at the gym, and Peri\u010di\u0107 found himself getting rounds in with Israel Adesanya \u2013 one of the biggest names in the sport \u2013 who would later ask Peri\u010di\u0107 to help him prepare for his UFC title rematch against long-time rival Alex Pereira. <\/p>\n \u201cIzzy definitely put some belief into me because I just lost a fight. I wasn\u2019t in the best headspace, I guess, but I came to the gym, faced my fears and did some rounds with Izzy. <\/p>\n \u201cHe was very encouraging, and for him to invite me over for a camp, I was like, I must be okay then. He\u2019s been a massive influence in my career.\u201d <\/p>\n But that first session almost didn\u2019t happen. <\/p>\n Reflecting on Peri\u010di\u0107\u2019s first moments in the gym, City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman<\/a> says he initially told the Australian he wasn\u2019t going to let him spar with his team. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I knew the bloke. He just came in and introduced himself,\u201d Bareman says. <\/p>\n \u201cI said not to spar, because you shouldn\u2019t be sparring the day after \u2013 I think he lost by TKO, so you definitely shouldn\u2019t be sparring. I don\u2019t know how he convinced me but he was like \u2018mate, I\u2019ve got to spar with these guys. It\u2019s my only opportunity. I might not get it again. Please let me spar.\u2019 <\/p>\n \u201cSo I let him spar and he showed right from then that he\u2019s got some pretty exceptional talent.\u201d <\/p>\n Since making the move across the Tasman in late 2022, Peri\u010di\u0107 has been a regular presence at the now-Morningside-based gym. <\/p>\n At 196cm, the man nicknamed the Balkan Bear – a moniker combining his Croatian ancestry and his size – is hard to miss within the walls of the gym. If you don\u2019t see him, you\u2019ll certainly hear his booming laugh before too long. <\/p>\n Such is Peri\u010di\u0107\u2019s personality; he\u2019s a happy character, has a smile for everyone, and doesn\u2019t take himself too seriously.<\/p>\n When the gloves go on, however, it\u2019s a very different story. <\/p>\n \u201cI like to knock people out. Don\u2019t let the smile fool people. I\u2019m a happy guy, but when it\u2019s time to fight, I switch on.\u201d<\/p>\n The South Australian joins the UFC with a modest 4-1 professional MMA record; three wins by knockout and one by submission. Fights on the local scene have not always been easy to come by. After making his debut in 2019, Peri\u010di\u0107 didn\u2019t have another bout until actually go ahead until early in 2024. <\/p>\n That seemed to be a turning point, as he was able to compete four times last year for a 3-1 record and do enough to draw the attention of the UFC\u2019s matchmakers. <\/p>\n \u201cBrando can, I believe, become a UFC champion,\u201d Bareman says.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has all the physical attributes and more that it takes to become a UFC champion. I think he\u2019ll be one of the most athletic men in that division.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Brando, it\u2019s all about his emotional and spiritual side. He\u2019s the kind of guy that wears his heart on his sleeve and puts himself out there.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just about controlling the emotional and the spiritual side of his being. If he can get that funnelled towards the goals that we want to achieve, then the world is his oyster.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can achieve great things, I believe.\u201d<\/p>\n Peri\u010di\u0107 was signed on to compete on Dana White\u2019s Contender Series, a show where top prospects from around the world go head-to-head for the chance at a UFC contract, against American Elisha Ellison last month. <\/p>\n It was the same pathway as that taken by fellow City Kickboxing fighters Carlos Ulberg and Navajo Stirling, who also signed on for DWCS bouts with only a few MMA fights to their names, but took their opportunities and are now established UFC athletes. <\/p>\n Stirling will make his third UFC appearance in Perth after winning his first two, while Ulberg \u2013 ranked at No 3 in the light heavyweight division \u2013 will headline the card looking to stake his claim to a title shot. <\/p>\n But two weeks out from that scheduled fight, Peri\u010di\u0107 got a call from Bareman and his manager, Ash Belcastro. Having had bookings fall through before, he got an all-too-familiar feeling. <\/p>\n Instead, it was the news that the booking had been elevated, and both he and Ellison were now in the UFC.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were a lot of emotions. I wasn\u2019t an optimist, that\u2019s for sure,\u201d he grins. <\/p>\n \u201cThey had me going, so I\u2019m glad that it was some good news at the end of it because I wasn\u2019t, I wasn\u2019t very happy.\u201d <\/p>\n Now part of the roster with the world\u2019s top promotion, finding opponents and opportunities that will come to fruition should no longer be a problem for the Balkan Bear. <\/p>\n \u201cOh mate, it\u2019s amazing. You don\u2019t understand. Like, that\u2019s the biggest struggle. Well, that has been the biggest struggle for me. <\/p>\n \u201cI need that experience, but also trying to find your own fights to come up with money to pay people, I don\u2019t have to worry about that now. I can just be a professional fighter and train and fight. I love it. It\u2019s great.\u201d <\/p>\n And at a time where the UFC have been cutting heavyweight athletes who fail to produce exciting fights, Peri\u010di\u0107 has a message of reassurance for his new employer. <\/p>\n \u201cThat won\u2019t be a problem for me, mate. I always go for the knockout.\u201d <\/p>\n UFC Perth<\/p>\n RAC Arena. Sunday, September 28. <\/p>\n Fight card <\/p>\n Light heavyweight main event: Carlos Ulberg (3) v Dominick Reyes (8)<\/p>\n Heavyweight: Brando Peri\u010di\u0107 v Elisha Ellison<\/p>\n Light heavyweight: Navajo Stirling v Rodolfo Bellato<\/p>\nBrando Peri\u010di\u0107 has a 4-1 record in professional MMA. Photo \/ Annaleise Shortland<\/p>\n
Two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya invited Brando Peri\u010di\u0107 to help him with a fight camp in 2023. Photo \/ Annaleise Shortland<\/p>\n
Eugene Bareman: Brando Peri\u010di\u0107 “has some pretty exceptional talent.” Photo \/ Annaleise Shortland<\/p>\n
Brando Peri\u010di\u0107 and Navajo Stirling will both fight at UFC Perth on September 28, alongside City Kickboxing teammates Carlos Ulberg and Cameron Rowston. Photo \/ Annaleise Shortland<\/p>\n