LONGVIEW, Texas — Derrick Krantz is no stranger to the octagon. Through his last decade as a professional fighter he has racked up 24 wins and he is the first welterweight champion of the Legacy Fighting Alliance.
Now Krantz turns his focus upwards to the UFC.
“When I found out that I got accepted for a short notice fight this Saturday, I was pumped. I'm ready to go out and do what I need to do,” Krantz said.
With just five days to prepare to fight 15th ranked welterweight Vicente Luque, Krantz is focusing on his own game.
“I never left the gym so I'm still in shape, I know if I go out there and fight my fight and just do what I know I'm capable of, everything will work out just fine, I hit hard," Krantz said. I got good submissions. You know, I like to say, I'm good all the way around. Dangerous everywhere.”
When it comes to how he matches up with Luque, Krantz says they have similar styles.
“I do know that he comes forward, he puts a lot of pressure, but he comes hard," Krantz said. "He tries to finish the fight and it's almost a mirror image of me. So it's gonna turn out to be a good one."
A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krantz started MMA back in 2006 and each fight has led to this moment.
“I've just been one fight at a time, just keep going. Fought a bunch of big names," Krantz said. You know, just doing what the sport has requested of me, I believe the good Lord put me here for a reason. He let all this happen. So I just keep my faith and go out there to do what I'm blessed to do.”
When asked his prediction for the fight, Krantz gave a fighter's answer.
“I finish him within the first two rounds,” Krantz said.
The fight is this Saturday night on ESPN Plus, and there will be a watch party at the AVCO roofing office in Longview.