Tyson Pedro’s take on career growing pains: ‘I’m like fine wine – I’m getting better with age’

February 29, 2024 8:30 pm ET

LAS VEGAS – Tyson Pedro has had a little taste of that highly touted prospect life. Now he wants to show Vitor Petrino there can be a downside to it.

That downside for Pedro (10-4 MMA, 6-4 UFC) came in 2017 when he was 5-0 with five first-round finishes on his resume, including stoppages in his first two UFC fights against Khalil Rountree and Paul Craig – no small potatoes to be certain.

But Ilir Latifi took a decision from him for his first loss, and it was the start of a 1-3 slump that ultimately helped usher him into more than three years on the sidelines. These days, though, he’s reversed that with a 3-1 run – and the first-round finishes are back.

But Petrino (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) comes in with a fresh set of challenges for Pedro, namely that the Brazilian is unbeaten – just like Pedro was at one point.

“I’m just getting there (in my career),” Pedro said at Wednesday’s media day for UFC Fight Night 238 (ESPN+) in Las Vegas, where he fights Petrino on Saturday. “I feel good where I’m at right now, so I’m just going with it. I’m like fine wine, man: I’m getting better with age.

“Bring it. That’s it. Let’s go. I was a hype train once. It just takes a better fighter to beat him, so I’m ready to take that zero.”

Petrino is a 3-1 betting favorite in the fight. He came to the UFC a year ago next week after a win on Dana White’s Contender Series. He has but two decisions on his resume, and the rest are finishes.

Check out Pedro’s full media day interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.

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