Standing 6-foot-6, Luis Francischinelli could very well be the tallest welterweight competitor in mixed martial arts today. His remarkable size, comparable to UFC heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov, combined with demonstrable skills, ultimately earned him a chance to fundamentally change his life.
Francischinelli was scheduled to compete for a 5-0 professional record when he faced Angelo Rivera Jr. at LFA 208 in Santa Cruz, California. Before entering the cage, he pursued a kickboxing career, aiming to establish himself on the Brazilian circuit. However, the process was significantly stalled and taking too long, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the age of 25, Francischinelli made a pivotal decision with his wife. They chose to sell their car and motorcycle to purchase a plane ticket to the United States. He messaged eight random individuals on Instagram seeking advice about life in the U.S., and the first person to respond strongly urged him to make the move immediately.
Just 45 days later, Francischinelli arrived in California and sought out the Black House gym. Finances were tight, but he managed to secure enough funds for basic accommodation and training. He shared his living space with two other men, one of whom he described as “a bipolar man who became my friend and even lent me money to buy a car.”
“It was difficult,” Francischinelli recalled, “But I was fortunate to have good people around me.”
Among these helpful individuals was Jorge Guimarães, a renowned manager representing current UFC standouts like Alex Pereira and Alexandre Pantoja, alongside legends including Anderson Silva and the Nogueira brothers. Alexander Volkov, a top-ranked UFC heavyweight who was preparing for a fight against Ciryl Gane after his knockout victory over Alistair Overeem, was also part of Guimarães`s team. Volkov needed sparring partners, and the tall newcomer from Brazil was selected.
“He was a heavyweight, and I only weighed about 180 pounds,” Francischinelli explained. “My height was my only advantage. They told me, `Go spar with him.` I thought, `My God!` but agreed. I went and completed three tough rounds with Volkov. People were surprised, asking, `Who is this guy?` Joinha [Guimarães] observed and realized, `We`ve found potential here.`”
Following this impressive showing, Guimarães introduced Francischinelli to his business partner, Ed Soares, the president of LFA. Francischinelli was offered a contract with the promotion, a crucial step that enabled him to secure a visa and formally commence his fighting career in the United States.
“It was truly a favor,” Francischinelli remarked, “because they barely knew me at that point. They saw me train, but so many people pass through those doors daily.”
Francischinelli trained at Black House for just over a year before transitioning to CMMA, where he specifically focused on enhancing his jiu-jitsu and wrestling skills, preparing for his MMA debut. One unexpected Thursday, he received a call asking if he would accept a middleweight fight on just 48 hours` notice due to an injury to the original opponent. He eagerly accepted the opportunity, traveled to Commerce, California, successfully made weight, and defeated Emmanueli Adzoh by knockout in a mere 85 seconds.
Several months later, after encountering a few canceled matchups, Francischinelli journeyed to New York and secured another first-round knockout victory, this time stopping Ken Burrs. Greg Sun and Victor Kuiks also failed to survive the opening round against Francischinelli, who now feels he is just one win away from reaching the pinnacle of the sport in the UFC.
“I nearly got onto The Ultimate Fighter in May but wasn`t chosen, possibly due to having only four professional fights at the time,” Francischinelli stated. “However, they are aware of me now. They`re watching. And I feel this upcoming fight could be the one that gets me into the UFC.”
“Every day when I wake up, I think, this is the year I`ll join the UFC. I am certain it will happen. I believe I possess immense potential and significant striking experience. I still need to demonstrate my skills in certain areas, such as the ground game, but my wrestling and jiu-jitsu are constantly improving. I have everything necessary to deliver exciting performances, to enter the UFC, and become a champion. I know this will come to pass. And I will be there this year.”
