Professional mixed martial artist and Rockport resident Pedro Gonzalez doesn't need any extra motivation for his next MMA fight this weekend. Gonzalez, a 22-year-old professional with a 3-2 record, will be fighting in the Main Event of the Global Fight League's "Prevail" this Saturday in Nashua, N.H. (Nashua High School South, 7 p.m.) and will be challenging GFL Bantamweight (135 pounds) champion Matt Smith, with the gold on the line.
While a title fight provides all the motivation any fighter could ever need, Gonzalez has gotten some extra motivation anyway. In Smith's last fight he defeated Gonzalez's older brother, Gloucester native Christian Rivera, by TKO just under two minutes into the first round to obtain the then-vacant GFL Bantamweight title.
"It's kind of like revenge," said Gonzalez, a father of two and a part-time landscaper. "I know Christian did all that he could and now it's my turn. Knowing he beat my brother gives me a ton of motivation."
Although Rivera fought Smith in September and trains with Gonzalez, the 22-year-old admits there isn't much to take from that fight because it was so short. After eating a couple of punches on the feet, Smith, a four-time New Hampshire state high school wrestling champ, went for a takedown and put the Gloucester native on his back. Rivera fended off several submission attempts but ultimately gave up his back, where Smith went to work and eventually got the TKO stoppage.
Having fought Smith and sparred with Gonzalez, Rivera likes his brother's chances.
"I have been in the cage with both and Pedro has a big-time strength advantage," said Rivera, who believes his fight with Smith ended with a premature stoppage. "Pedro throws me around when we train and Smith isn't as strong as people say he is."
Gonzalez is hoping to take advantage of his size, as he stands 5-foot-10 inches, which is very tall for a bantamweight considering Smith is just 5-foot-6. Gonzalez is also making his debut at 135 pounds, as his previous five fights were all at 145 pounds.
"I want to use my reach to my advantage," Gonzalez said. "My Muay Thai kick boxing is my strength; I love throwing kicks, knees and elbows. And if it goes to the ground I will be ready there too, all three of my wins have come by submission."
If attempting to avenging his brother's loss wasn't enough motivation, Gonzalez has more. Smith, who now trains at Renzo Gracie jiu jitsu of New Hampshire, used to train at Gonzalez's gym, Dragon Warrior MMA, under Sensei Steve Pento in Lynn, MA.
Gonzalez and Rivera have built up a rivalry with fighters from Renzo Gracie of New Hampshire and Gonzalez has fought two Renzo Gracie of New Hampshire fighters. He beat Sean Ratcliffe by submission (guillotine choke) and he was defeated by Chris Grandmaison at 145 pounds. Grandmaison, however, is a hot prospect at 145 pounds and Gonzalez was one of the first guys to take him deep into the second round. In his last fight in November, Gonzalez submitted Franklin Isabel by guillotine choke in the first round.
"There are so many story-lines for this fight," Rivers said. "It's crazy. Our whole gym is going up to the fight, they are all fired up."
Gonzalez, who cites UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber as his three favorite fighters, has been training jiu jitsu with Pento in Lynn for the last five months and has seen drastic improvements in his game.
Fighting in his third straight main event fight, Gonzalez is looking to put his new skills to the test.
"I have been working hard on my jiu jitsu and sprawl," said Gonzalez, who turned pro three years ago without any amateur fights. "Most of the guys I have fought were good wrestlers and ground fighters and it's no different here. I am hoping to use my takedown defense to get a knockout. My ground game is good and getting better and I'm getting more and more flexible but nobody has really been able to see what I can do standing. I'm ready for everything."
Saturday's fight will also be in Smith's home state of New Hampshire, where he will surely have the backing of the crowd. Gonzalez, however, won his last two fights over Ratcliffe and Isabel in his opponent's backyard.
Rivera has seen his brother's improvements over recent months and he thinks his brother is going to bring the title to Cape Ann.
"He is going to be the underdog because he doesn't come from a big name camp like Smith," Rivera said. "But I like his chances. It's not going to turn out the way my fight did."
Rivera looking to get back in the win column
Rivera will also be fighting on Saturday's card making his return to the 135 pound division against DJ Grimes. The Gloucester native, who has a 3-5 professional MMA record, is riding a two-fight losing streak and is hoping to get back in the win column.
"DJ is a fighter that flies under the radar but he is good," Rivera said. "He has fought some tough guys but I have improved a lot recently."
Rivera's last fight, which was at a GFL event last month, ended quickly as Yann Oliveira, a much bigger fighter making his MMA debut, won by TKO just 38 seconds into the fight. Rivera, who usually fights at 135 pounds, moved up to 140 to fight Oliveira, a fighter who he thought had little experience. But come to find out, he had an extensive amateur background and fights out of a strong camp (Prime FC) in Boston.
"It wasn't a good night for me," Rivera said. "His size was too much for me. I lost by TKO but I was close to being knocked out. That's a loss I can accept, now I'm even more motivated to come back an even better fighter."
