Matt Frevola navigating current reality of MMA to prepare for next fight
When The Scrap caught up with UFC lightweight Matt Frevola (8-1-1 MMA), he was navigating the new world of MMA training during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Steam Rolla” is busy preparing for his April 25 fight which as of now is still scheduled. He is set to face Roosevelt Roberts (9-1 MMA) at UFC Lincoln. While living in Long Island, New York, the Dana White’s Contender Series alum is finding his fight camp during quarantine rough.
“I am doing the best I can to do a fight camp,” he said, “It’s tough with all the gyms closed and it’s getting really bad in New York. I am trying to be as safe as possible, but it’s been tough.”
Frevola said in all his previous fight camps he had the luxury of revving up his training at four weeks out. Training included swimming, hot yoga two to three times a week, and working on his striking, Muay Thai, and Jiu-Jitsu.
To prepare himself for his upcoming fight he has been running, doing bag work at home and generally setting up his training schedule day by day. “I see where I can train, when I can train and with whom I can train. I try to make the best of it every day.”
The Serra-Longo fighter knows he is facing a tough guy but states, “I am going to go out there and do what I do.” He predicts that he will finish Roberts either on his feet or on the ground. “I am always looking for the finish.”
The lightweight has only one loss in his entire amateur and pro career. The defeat came in his UFC debut at the hands of Polo Reyes at UFC St. Louis in January 2018. He got knocked down by a punch one minute into the fight and admits of the loss; “It was tough. I got back to training and focussed on what I could control. I focussed on the future; on the next one.”
When asked what the best part is of being a UFC fighter, Frevola smiled and said, “I get to do what I love every day. I get to train. I make my own schedule every day and focus on what I want to focus on. I am able to do what I love and make money doing it.”
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