Falciroli praises Vas

NEWLY crowned CFC bantamweight champion Gustavo Falciroli believes Sydneysider Richie Vas has a bright future in MMA.

After defeating Vas by decision at CFC 12 at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, Falciroli came away impressed by his opponent’s heart and skill.

“Everyone was saying I’d beat him because he hadn’t had as many fights as I had,” Falciroli told cfcworld.com.au.

“They said I should win because of my (greater) experience.

“(But) it doesn’t matter how many fights you’ve had because when someone’s unbeaten like he was, they’re confident and dangerous.”

Vas entered the bout unbeaten in four MMA starts, certain he could give the BJJ expert a serious run for his money.

In preparation for the fight, Vas trained with several jiu jitsu black belts and he worked hard on his strength and conditioning in an effort to prepare for the rigors of going the distance.

“I’m very excited,” Vas said before the fight.

“The title is very important, something I’ve been aiming at for some time.

“I’m very confident and I see my hand being raised at the end.”

But Falciroli proved to be a difficult adversary, one whose polished ground game and cage smarts proved to be the difference between victory and defeat.

“I never underestimate any opponent, they receive my full respect because all it takes is a big punch on your head and you’re gone,” Falciroli said.

“In the second or third round I got him in an armbar but he did a nice escape and I say ‘oh, I gotta go the five rounds’.”

Falciroli said he’d sparred five rounds in the gym, but doing so in a real fight was an enormous challenge.

“(But) now that I’ve faced that fear it’s a really, really big step for me.”