‘The Crank’ banks on lancheru training

In this June 1, 2019 file photo, Frank “The Crank” Camacho takes a shot on Nick Hein during the first round of their bout in the UFC Fight Night 153 in Stockholm, Sweden. (Contributed Photo)

Frank “The Crank” Camacho just got a short notice for his first match of the season, but believes he is in good shape and ready to battle Matt “The Steamrolla” Frevola in UFC Fight Night 173.

The Camacho-Frevola tussle will take place on June 20 in Las Vegas, leaving the Marianas warriors with less than a month to fine-tune his MMA skills and work on his game plan against the New York fighter. However, even before he got a call to compete in next month’s event, the Guam-based Camacho has been training for months, lancheru-style.

“Home training has been very well. It’s lancheru, farm-style, as I dig holes, cut tangan-tangan, run with the wheelbarrow and do yard work and other projects at home to stay in shape. I have to be creative under this circumstance (pandemic),” the 31-year-old athlete said, adding that he also does his usual bag work and mixes it with a lot of running and biking.

A screen grab of Frank “The Crank” Camacho’s lancheru-style training shows him doing wheelbarrow drills. (Contributed Photo)

Camacho will then switch from farm to gym training in a few days, as he is scheduled to leave for the mainland early this morning. He will first stop in California to meet with coach Colin Oyama and his teammates and then head to Las Vegas this Wednesday (Thursday on Saipan).

“We will go over our game plan and get some fine tuning for three weeks with coach Colin. I am really excited with this fight and for the opportunity to get back in there (octagon cage) and represent the Marianas again amid this crisis,” the lightweight fighter said.

On top of Camacho’s strategies against Frevola would be how to keep up with the latter’s stamina.

“He has a huge gas tank. He does not have a particular skill, as he is a Jack of all trades. He is very explosive and squirmy. It’s definitely going to be a tough, but fun fight,” Camacho said.

The old, left, and new mural at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Contributed Photo)

Half of Frevola’s 10 fights all went the distance (three rounds) and he won four of them. His three-round duel against Lando Vannata in UFC 230 in 20018 ended in a draw, while he recorded submissions wins via triangle arm-bar, and Guillotine and arm-triangle chokes. The 29-year-old has only one victory via KO/TKO so far compared to Camacho’s 17.

“Against Frevola, I will keep my guard high and will always be ready to counter,” said Camacho, who also has a better striking accuracy than Frevola, 46 %-36%.

Versus Frevola, Camacho is looking for his third UFC victory (he defeated Damien Brown in 2017 and Nick Hein in 2019) and a good start to his new four-fight deal with the MMA promotion company. Frevola, on the other hand, is hoping to extend his win streak to three after prevailing against Luis Pena and Jalin Turner last year.