’The Crank’ returns, faces former foe

Frank “The Crank” Camacho, right, and Matt “The Steamrolla” Frevola appear in one of the promotional posters for the Ultimate Fighting Championship 263 set for June 12. (Contributed Photo)

Marianas warrior Frank “The Crank” Camacho will have his first fight of the season, as he returns to the octagon cage via the Ultimate Fighting Championship 263 Figueiredo vs Moreno 2.

Camacho’s foe for the June 12 bout is Matt “The Steamrolla” Frevola, who incidentally is the same fighter paired against the Team Oyama standout in the UFC Fight Night 173 in Las Vegas about a year ago before the former was pulled out from the schedule the last minute after his cornerman was tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Nearly three months after missing the chance to challenge Frevola, it was Camacho’s turn to withdraw from his duel against Brok “Chata Tuska” Weaver in the UFC Fight Night 177 after contracting the same deadly virus.

With both fighters eager to return to the eight sides, Camacho is expecting a brawl in the three-round bout against Frevola.

“I am excited for this matchup. He is tough as a nail and I fantasize about a tough, hard match like this. It’s will not be easy to get the win and it will a 15-minute of fighting for every inch of victory. This will be a full display of MMA—grappling, wrestling, ground and pound, and striking,” said the 31-year-old athlete.

Camacho has two months to prepare for his MMA comeback and he believes he has enough time to get ready and end his losing skid.

“I am very excited to have a decent amount of time to prep. I am also glad to have picked up cycling and running a whole lot during the downtime to really help with my endurance,” the Guam-born, Saipan-raised MMA fighter.

The Marianas pride holds a 22-9 record and dropped his last two UFC bouts—bowing to Beneil Dariush in UFC Fight Night 162 last Oct. 26, 2019 via submission (rear-naked choke) and Justine Jaynes (via TKO), who replaced Frevola in the UFC on ESPN 11 that took place last June 20, 2020 in Las Vegas.

Frevola also lost his recent assignment (via unanimous decision) after falling to Russia’s Arman Tsarukyan in FUC 257 in Abu Dhabi last Jan. 23 this year. Before facing Tsarukyan, Frevola was scheduled to battle Roosevelt Roberts in same UFC event where Camacho was supposed to square off against Weaver. However, the New York native was pulled out anew from the fight card after sustaining an injury a few days before the bout.

Despite this series of misfortunes, Camacho is not taking Frevola lightly.

“He’s a grinder and he doesn’t quit. We are the type of fighters that you have to put out to win the fight. It’s going to be like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object,” Camacho said.