Mackson Lee (left) and Hecher Sosa (right) face off on the Contender Series. Photo: Reproduction/Alex Behunin
Billed as the 'toughest job interview in the world,' the Contender Series features several accounts of the intense excitement and adrenaline rush during the preparation and execution of the fight. The event scheduled for this Tuesday (16), however, will feature behind-the-scenes drama, highlighting the strength of the fighters' dream of joining the UFC.
At 30 years old and coming off a 10-fight winning streak, Spaniard Hecher Sosa had to make a crucial decision one day before his chance to face Dana White and his allies. Scheduled to face Brazilian Mackson Lee, the fighter was informed on Sunday (14) that his father had passed away. When asked by the organization if he would be fit to continue in the fight, the prospect didn't hesitate and accepted the challenge.
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On his social media, Hecher explained what motivated him not to cancel his commitment and highlighted the honor he paid to his father, who has been with him since the beginning of his journey.
“At 5 a.m. on Sunday, Las Vegas time, the day the weight cut began, my brother called me, woke me up, and said, 'That's it, bro, dad passed away.
I said “okay” and hung up, I couldn’t say anything else.
My father wouldn't see me fight... I couldn't sleep and I started thinking and I thought about what my father told me before he left: "Son, don't worry, we started this together and we'll finish it together... I realized that he left us alive so that his soul could fly here, to Las Vegas, to be with me, so that we could be two inside the octagon.
I'm going to win this fight and I don't care who the opponent is, I'm going to tear him in half,” Hecher posted on his official account. Instagram.
Hecher Sosa with her father. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @hechersosa
Representing the bantamweight division (up to 61,2 kg), the Spaniard is considered a slight underdog for the fight. Sosa and Lee will be in the main fight of the event scheduled for this Tuesday (16), at Contender Series.
Read Hecher Sosa's statement in full
“At 5 a.m. on Sunday, Las Vegas time, the day the weight cut began, my brother called me, woke me up, and said, 'That's it, bro, dad passed away.
I said “okay” and hung up, I couldn’t say anything else.
I hung up and started crying, breaking down, I felt such intense pain that I can't explain it.
My father wouldn't see me fight... I couldn't sleep and I started thinking and I thought about what my father told me before he left: "Son, don't worry, we started this together and we'll finish it together... I realized that he left us alive so that his soul could fly here, to Las Vegas, to be with me, so that we could be two inside the octagon.
My manager, Iridium Sports Agency, and the UFC asked if I wanted to continue with the fight and I said yes.
Because I am a man of my word, because I have to honor my father's memory and if he left his body to be with me inside that octagon, we will be in that octagon and we will win, because we started this together, because when I win, I will look up to the sky and see his proud face once again, I have no doubt.
I'm going to win this fight and I don't care who the opponent is, I'm going to break him in half.
We managed our weight like professionals, despite feeling sad, despite not sleeping for 30 hours, without eating, without drinking, doing saunas, training, baths... without a doubt it was the most difficult weight loss of my life.
God gives the worst battles to his best warriors, and here I am once again at his mercy to make history.”
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