Mixed martial arts is experiencing its best moments in our country. Elia Topuria will compete for the UFC featherweight belt in February, Joel Alvarez and Dani Parise have a contract with the aforementioned company (Alexander Topuria has been confirmed, absent an official status) and UFC Spain aims to become a reality in 2024. The growth of this sport has been tremendous. 2018 was the breakout year. Before, Alberto Cerro León (in UFC 2), Enrique Wasabi Marin and Abner Loveras came to fight in the UFC. Marin won two fights within The Ultimate Fighter, the company’s reality show, but because they were not contested in regulation time, they were considered exhibition matches. thus, Spain’s first victory did not arrive until 30 November 2018..
Juan Espino entered the UFC via the same route as Marin and Liveras. Gran Canarian, who was 38 years old at the time, was selected to participate in The Ultimate Fighter 28 (TUF 28). Within the reality show, the Spaniard won two fights. In the first, he dominated and defeated Ben Sosoli on points, and in the second, he brutally overthrew the American Maurice Green. In this way, he entered the final, where his American compatriot, Justin Frazier, was waiting for him. Like Wasabi, his tournament matches were considered exhibitionistic and The final will be his official UFC debut.
Before that date comes, Espino managed to become extremely viral in the United States. He spoke English, but not fluently, which is why he earned a place in the hearts of many because of his calm personality. Furthermore, Green viewed him as a dangerous rival and began berating him almost constantly while they were together. Espino remained calm and was clear when he hit him: “I spoke here.” Years later, the Grand Canary Islands became relative in every way. “Green was looking for me, but I had a good time inside the house. It was a great experience. My personality has always been what it seems. I try to stay away from problems and focus on the beautiful“Espino tells Relivo.
Before entering the UFC, Espino was already a legend in contact sports in Spainto. known as Jogging, was one of the best Canarian wrestling athletes, which brought him great fame in the islands. In addition, he was a CSD recognized high-performance athlete, where he became, among many other things, Six-time world wrestling champion. He also practiced jiu-jitsu, sambo, or mutton wrestling.. Despite this, Canarian wrestling was his most regular sport due to the greater economic stability it brought him.
Outside of his world medals, one of the Spaniard’s achievements came in laboratory wrestling, or Senegalese wrestling. He won the seven fights he fought in Africa and is the only foreigner recognized by the sports federation in that country.. “There I was better known than Iniesta,” he recalled in conversation while explaining that there was the face of the Calesi poster that Andres Iniesta occupied in Spain after the 2010 World Cup. In Senegal, yes, he was known as the White Lion.
In the latter part of his career, he wanted to pursue a career in mixed martial arts with the aim of entering the UFC.. From 2009 to 2011 he fought three times. He won the first two and lost the third. He did not like the behind-the-scenes of the sport in terms of managing some managers and took a break until 2017, when he set his new goal. That year he had six wins and all he had to do was wait.. Moreover, in his last fight before the UFC he broke his hand and had to undergo surgery. He was a strange fighter, as he was his own healer. I didn’t want middlemen. “In 2016 I decided to try my luck. I lived in Miami and they didn’t take me seriously. No one located Spain because of mixed martial arts. They told me that if I had continuity they would call me. I started fighting. In some I was not even accused, I accepted what came out. Finally I got the call I was waiting for.”
The UFC was watching him and didn’t want to let him escape, because he was an extremely valuable asset. Heavyweights usually don’t have the land he does, so he can be kryptonite for many. Although, during TUF, he didn’t want to give away too much evidence. He saved that for the final. In Las Vegas, everyone chanted “Elguapo is coming!”. Espino took this title and the phrase he used was a propaganda boom. “At the gym they started calling me ‘El Guapo.’ They gave all of us Latinos a nickname in Spanish. Every way I was involved, they gave me a nickname and I liked that nickname. There was a video with this logo and I liked the idea. The shame was that I couldn’t develop it much more because I fought without an audience and with few people.“But there were actions that could have been very impressive.”
already in combat, Juan Espino showed all his potential. He finished the first round with Frazier to make history. He had just scored his first MMA win in Spain, meaning he was the winner of TUF 28. He had just secured a contract with the UFC, although it wasn’t just another contract. His reality show winner status has given him a lot of personality. “I have a very fond memory of that fight. My intention was not to be the first Spaniard to win in the UFC. My goal was to be there, but once you achieve it, you always want more. He also didn’t want to celebrate too much out of respect for my opponent. “In my case I was looking to improve as a fighter, but Frazier was fighting for his kids.”
The joy was maximum, however Espino has been suspended. In the final battle within reality He broke his right hand. There wasn’t much time between the competition portion and the final, so he trained injured so as not to miss the opportunity. After his win, he had to be out of work for a year, and the pandemic added almost another year. “I had to try other things. Of course I wish I could have done more fights and I could have done great things“Espino says.
He finally managed to return in September 2020. He passed on Jeff Hughes and once again “El Guapo is coming”. With his qualities, he could have caused chaos, but in his next fight (April 2021). He had to deal with epicondylitis in both elbows. Romanov fought and won, although the judges did not award him victory. He knew he wasn’t 100%, so he promised not to return until he reached a level acceptable to the UFC. That elbow injury, which prevented him from doing everyday things like putting on socks, ended in his retirement. Such a long and arduous career ended up taking its toll on him. He left us fans wanting more, but he accepted it with integrity. Despite the bitter ending Juan Espino was a legend in Spanish contact sports before he entered the UFC, and he’s even more so since.. He opened the door of victories for our country in the best company in the world.
“Lifelong travel trailblazer. Food nerd. Award-winning music enthusiast. Twitter guru.”