Andre Muniz sent a tremor through the sport when he submitted Ronaldo Souza with a bone-breaking armbar at UFC 262 on May 15 and announced his arrival as a person of interest in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s middleweight division.
Some seven months after that potential star-making performance, “Sergipano” returns to the Octagon to face former Legacy Fighting Alliance champion Eryk Anders on the UFC 269 undercard this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Muniz, 31, enters the cage on the heels of seven straight victories. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has delivered 14 of his 21 career wins by submission.
In this exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Muniz touches on his pre-UFC days, his forthcoming battle with Anders and his stunning submission of a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist:
Sherdog.com: Can you recap your MMA career up to joining the UFC in 2019?
Muniz: I’ve worked hard in my career. I’ve been on this road for quite some time. I had my first MMA bout in 2009. I’ve faced some of the best talent in Brazil, so when I was invited to Dana White’s Contender Series, I was ready. I was there twice and won both fights. I entered the UFC as a mature fighter. I already had concrete thoughts about how to win my fights, move forward and get ranked. I’m reaping now what I sowed in the past. I’m very thankful to my team and to God for everything that’s happening in my life.
Sherdog.com: You have been undefeated since 2014, except for a single loss to Azamat Murzakanov. With his joining the UFC, have you considered a rematch?
Muniz: When I faced Azamat, it was at one weight class above as a light heavyweight. I had been going through a difficult time in my life. When the opportunity came up, I chose to accept it. I don’t know if he can make it down to 185 pounds. Right now, I don’t see myself changing weight classes, especially since I’m working my way toward the middleweight rankings. In the end, though, we work for the UFC. Whatever [UFC President] Dana White wants, it’s our job to do it. We’re here to bang it out with anyone.
Sherdog.com: What can you say about Anders, who has been in the UFC since 2017 and had battles with top talents like Lyoto Machida and Thiago Santos?
Muniz: Anders is pretty hard to beat. Even in a loss, he won’t make it easy for you. He’s headlined UFC cards and faced top names. He’s been tested. He’s undeniably tough. I know how difficult it will be face him, but I have no choice since I’m looking to carve my name in the weight division. The way to do that is to beat big names inside the United States. It’s going to be a challenge for both of us since we’re both southpaws, but I put a lot of faith in my physical conditioning and ground game and I believe my boxing is much improved.
Sherdog.com: Could you share some details about your training camp, especially after your opponent changed from Dricus Du Plessis to Anders?
Muniz: I was notified that Dricus had an injury that required surgery. I wish him a speedy recovery. I do my training camps at [Tata Fight Team] in Rio de Janeiro. I was getting ready for Dricus, but one month before the fight, that got changed to Anders. As a lefty, he’s pretty different from Dricus. I took more time to work on my wrestling. Aside from that, everything was as usual. My goal is always to get my opponents down and to win by submission. That won’t be any different this time. Anders has never been submitted. I’d like to be the one to do it. I’m very ready for Dec. 11. It will be a super card, a super event. I’m very ready and focused. There’s no easy road to the championship belt. I know that Eryk is well-regarded in America, but now is my moment. There’s no other way but through.
Sherdog.com: While you are the only MMA fighter to ever submit Souza, you did not net a performance bonus for your efforts. How did you feel about that?
Muniz: It did bug me that I was the first person to submit “Jacare” yet I didn’t get awarded a bonus—$75,000 would have been a lot of money for me. It would have been a big help in building up my home. Later, I found out that some MMA publications are considering it for “Submission of the Year,” but there’s nothing I can do about it. I did receive an additional amount from the UFC later. It was nice but nothing like the bonuses awarded on fight night.
Sherdog.com: How did the bonus you received for submitting Bartosz Fabinski at UFC Fight Night 176 change your life?
Muniz: I’m a father to two daughters. In Brazil, athletes usually go through many difficulties, but I’ve always had my feet firmly planted on the ground. With that bonus, I bought a plot of land on which to build my home. I’ll keep having battles in the UFC so I can finish building my home and so I can give a better life to my daughters.
Sherdog.com: What are your plans for the future?
Muniz: I hope that once I beat Anders, the UFC can book me against a ranked opponent. Who knows? Someone like Darren Till. It would be a great matchup, but I’m ready for anyone the UFC picks for me. I’m looking to submit everyone on my way to [current middleweight champion] Israel Adesanya.