• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
'He took four years away from me': Injury exile teeing up Tyson Pedro's dream redemption fight

Home> MMA

Published 07:29 19 Aug 2022 GMT+1

'He took four years away from me': Injury exile teeing up Tyson Pedro's dream redemption fight

"... I've gotta get that back."

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

Judging by his last fight, Tyson Pedro is on a warpath.

In his long-awaited return to the octagon, the Aussie fan favourite ran through Isaac Villanueva, ending their bout in the first round in devastating fashion.

It was the first time in four years that we'd witnessed Pedro in action, and we're certainly glad to have him back.

Advert

As for the rest of the UFC's light heavyweight division, they're probably dreading seeing the sight of him.

This weekend, Pedro's biblical second coming continues as he takes on Harry Hunsucker at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City.

The 30-year is fully recovered from the potentially career-altering knee injury that kept him sidelined for four long years.

Advert

And when the cage doors slam shut this weekend, Pedro plans on showing why the light heavyweight divison felt so stagnant without him in it.

But there's something boiling away in the background that the western Sydney icon feels he needs to take care of to truly complete his comeback tour.

"I'm 100 per cent focused on Harry Hunsucker, so I try not to look too far ahead at future match-ups," Pedro told SPORTbible.

Advert

"But Shogun Rua, man, I'd love to be on the Israel Adesanya card in November with him.

"I've got to get through this fight first, but who knows, Shogun at Madison Square Garden would be hectic.

"I feel like he took four years away from me so I've gotta get that back."

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
Alamy

Advert

As for his fight in Salt Lake City, Hunsucker is a bloke Pedro and his team are all too familiar with.

"Tai Tuivasa fought him, so he's given me a couple of pointers which he recognised from their previous scrap," Pedro added.

"Obviously Hunsucker's not going to be a fan of Polynesians after this one with Justin Tafa, Tai Tuivasa and now me. That right there is a hard run of Samoans back-to-back-to-back."

And it turns out Pedro has been training with some of the best mixed martial artists on planet too.

Advert

"I'm a way better fighter than I was in my last fight," he said.

"I did a full camp at City Kickboxing. Those guys are amazing. There's a reason why those guys are doing so well, man. That was the hardest training camp I've ever done, mentally and physically.

"Stuff that they find that's their fundamentals, I didn't necessarily know. So it's almost like coming out as an amateur again. I love being a student, that's what's so good about mixed martial arts because it's never ending - you're always learning.

"My diary is full from all their philosophies. I had to have three journals."

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/tyson_pedro/UFC/Zuffa/Alamy

Topics: Australia, MMA, UFC

Max Sherry
Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

X

@maxysherry

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

4 hours ago
5 hours ago
  • 4 hours ago

    Jon Jones rejected astronomical Tom Aspinall fight purse as Ariel Helwani makes stunning Turki Alalshikh claim

    UFC superfight chatter rumbles on despite Bones retirement and major Dana White decision

    MMA
  • 4 hours ago

    Khabib Nurmagomedov sent Jon Jones new 'not friends' message with surprising twist

    Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jon Jones are legends of the UFC

    MMA
  • 5 hours ago

    Paddy Pimblett has made his feelings clear on Jon Jones as ex-UFC champion retires without facing Tom Aspinall

    Paddy Pimblett spoke about Jon Jones following his victory over Michael Chandler.

    MMA
  • 5 hours ago

    Police release bodycam footage of alleged Jon Jones car crash incident as ex-UFC star hit with criminal charge

    Jon Jones was hit with a criminal charge just hours after his UFC retirement.

    MMA
  • Dana White confirms incredible gesture for Tom Aspinall after Jon Jones retirement ends hopes of dream UFC fight
  • Tom Aspinall speaks out after becoming undisputed UFC heavyweight champion as huge first fight lined up
  • UFC fighter suffers most bizarre 'injury' in history BEFORE his fight, gets knocked out in first-round
  • UFC fighter brutally axed from roster by Dana White despite winning last fight as fans left stunned