Andre Petroski: “This is what I’ve prayed for, for so long!”
Andre Petroski video interview above
Andre Petroski hasn’t wasted any time settling right into the UFC’s middleweight division. Finishing both of his opponents late in the third round via submission. UFC 267 was another notch in Petroski’s belt as he took out former heavyweight, light heavyweight and now middleweight in Yaozong Hu via arm triangle with a matter of seconds left in the contest.
The fight was Petroski’s for the taking as the Daniel Gracie and John Marquez fight team prospect was controlling the fight from the onset. Setting up his takedowns with his strikes, Petroski was a step ahead of Yaozong with his grappling skill set, threatening Yaozong with submissions multiple times throughout the fight.
Before the bout, Petroski remembers having a moment of nerves, given the bout was taken on such short notice and overseas. However, that quickly faded to an afterthought when Petroski’s reality set in; “I’ve had way more fights than this kid. I have more experience, I’ve fought better strikers, I’ve fought better grapplers, Petroski recalls. Finally coming to the realization of, “this kid has no idea what he’s in for,” he recollects.
Systematically breaking Yaozong down throughout the entire duration of the bout, Petroski didn’t settle and didn’t stop attacking, looking for multiple finishes in each round. Finally locking in the arm triangle, late in the third round, Petroski’s determination, experience, mixed with his ever-improving growth as an athlete proved all naysayers that this middleweight can grind for three grueling rounds with the best of them.
“In all reality, I am super lucky and it’s been great,” Petroski says about his UFC run, thus far. “I mean, this has been my dream. This is what I prayed for, for so long!”
Tune in above as Andre Petroski joins MyMMANews to discuss his recent bout against Yaozong Hu at UFC 267. He discusses proving his doubters wrong, lessons learned from the fight and so much more!
