‘Crank’ trains at Team Oyama

Frank “The Crank” Camacho, left, poses with other standouts at Team Oyama Training Center in Orange County, California during a break in their training session last week. (Contributed Photo)

Frank “The Crank” Camacho is attending training camp in California to prepare for a possible Ultimate Fighting Championship fight in June.

Camacho is working out with renowned MMA coach Colin Oyama, who has been training top-level fighters for more than two decades and operates the Team Oyama Training Center in Orange County.

“We train two to three times a day and have two days off a week. We do everything from blending in striking to wrestling and grappling. I am here for about six to eight weeks while prepping and locking in a UFC bout,” said Camacho, who re-signed a four-fight deal with UFC early this year and is aiming to return to the octagon cage in June.

“Coach Oyama has coached veterans like UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson, UFC light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz, and so much more. The past week has been eye opening,” the Marianas warrior said.

Camacho added that he likes the direction of his training session with Oyama.

“I love having the instruction of coach Oyama. I’m a fighter. I know how to fight. But he’s showing me the WAY of the fight. Not changing my style, just fine-tuning my techniques and strategies,” the 29-year-old said.

At the training camp, Camacho also focuses on his mental strength.

“I want to fully immerse myself in the MMA fight training camp. Drill and practice the strategy game plan for my next bout. The mental side of the fight is very intriguing to me and coach Oyama breaks it down in my language,” the welterweight fighter said.

Camacho holds a 21-7 record and hopes to get back on track after his back-to-back losses last year. He bowed to Geoff Neal in the UFC 228: Woodley vs Till in Dallas last Sept. 8 and to Drew Dober in UFC on Fox 27: Jacare vs Brunson 2 in North Carolina last Jan. 27.

The bouts against Dober and Neal were part of Camacho’s first four-fight contract with UFC. He won his second assignment with the MMA promotion company in November 2017 when he defeated Australia’s Damien Brown via split decision in UFC Fight Night 121 in Sydney. Before his lone victory, Camacho lost his UFC debut to China’s Jingliang Li in UFC Fight Night 111 in Singapore. The Marianas fighter earned Fight of the Night honors in his first three bouts and is thankful for the opportunity to showcase the islanders’ fighting spirit in UFC.

“Just want to say thank you to my wife, Sarah, for being a huge supporter in my career and holding down the fort. The fighter lifestyle is a tough one, but I know no better way of representing the Marianas to the best of my ability but in the UFC. To my mom dad, family, the taangs, training partners back home, and the people of the Marianas… sen dunkalu na si yuus maase!”