Moving from Peru to join Sanford MMA helped UFC’s Claudio Puelles become a better fighter

Jim Varsallone
·1 min read

In March, Claudio Puelles decided to leave his native homeland Lima, Peru, for a chance to better himself as an MMA fighter.

That brought him to South Florida, where he is a member of the outstanding Sanford MMA team.

With a friend already training at Sanford MMA and his father, Sandro, already living in Miami, it made for an easier country-to-country transition for Puelles.

It didn’t take long for him to realize he made the right decision.

Led by Henri Hooft and Greg Jones, Sanford is a one-stop training center based in Deerfield Beach.

Being at Sanford MMA with that high-level type of coaches and fighters made Puelles work harder and work smarter.

Puelles (10-2) is preparing for his next bout, which is Saturday, Dec. 4 on the prelims of UFC Fight Night on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo. Puelles battles Chris Gruetzemacher (15-4) in a lightweight contest.

In my video interview with UFC fighter Claudio “El Nino” Puelles, he discusses UFC Fight Night, Sanford MMA, South Florida, Peru, MMA start, family, sports and more.

Puelles, 25, has won three consecutive fights, five of his last six. Gruetzemcher, 35, won two of his last three fights.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudio_puelles/

https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/4070701/claudio-puelles

https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Claudio-Puelles-105897

UFC SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE

UFC Website: https://www.ufc.com/

UFC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UFC/

UFC Twitter: https://twitter.com/ufc

UFC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/UFC

My Combat Sports and Pro Wrestling Talk on the Web and Social Media

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/fighting/

Twitter: @jimmyv3

YouTube: jim varsallone (jimmyv3 channel)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProWrestlingSouthFlorida/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWE-WrestleMania-28-Miami-241160769255279/

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Somalia wants to terminate the UN political mission assisting peace efforts in the country

    Somalia is asking the United Nations to terminate its political mission in the country, which has been assisting the government to bring peace and stability in the face of attacks by the al-Qaida-linked extremist group al-Shabab. In a letter to the Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres obtained Friday by The Associated Press, Somali Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi said the decision followed “a thorough consideration of our strategic priorities.” The current mandate of the mission, known as UNSOM, expires Oct. 31 and Fiqi asked for “the swift conclusion of the necessary procedures for the termination of the mission by the end of the mandate.”

  • 15 Best Places in Maryland For A Couple To Live On Only Social Security

    This article takes a look at the 15 best places in Maryland for a couple to live on only Social Security. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis on the future of Social Security in the US, you may go to 5 Best Places in Maryland for a Couple to Live on Only Social […]

  • A cyberattack forces a big US health system to divert ambulances and take records offline

    TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A cyberattack on the Ascension health system operating in 19 states across the U.S. forced some of its 140 hospitals to divert ambulances, caused patients to postpone medical tests and blocked online access to patient records. An Ascension spokesperson said it detected “unusual activity” Wednesday on its computer network systems. Officials refused to say whether the non-profit Catholic health system, based in St. Louis, was the victim of a ransomware attack or whether it had

  • Irvin sharp again for the Orioles, and Kimbrel pitches in the 7th inning of a 4-2 win over Arizona

    BALTIMORE (AP) — Cole Irvin pitched into the sixth inning in another effective start, and a reshuffled bullpen held on for the Baltimore Orioles in a 4-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Struggling reliever Craig Kimbrel was taken out of the closer's role for this game, but he worked a perfect seventh inning. Jacob Webb retired two batters in the eighth, but then walked a batter. Cionel Pérez came on and hit pinch-hitter Joc Pederson with a pitch before Eugenio Suárez hit a

  • Australia’s support for UN resolution on Palestinian membership ‘not recognition of statehood’

    Penny Wong reiterates support for eventual two-state solution after watered-down resolution passed by general assembly

  • Donte DiVincenzo hits from way downtown

    Donte DiVincenzo hits from way downtown, 05/10/2024

  • Precious Achiuwa with the flush

    Precious Achiuwa with the flush, 05/10/2024

  • WWII soldiers posthumously receive Purple Heart medals 79 years after fatal plane crash

    The families of five Hawaii men who served in a unit of Japanese-language linguists during World War II received posthumous Purple Heart medals on behalf of their loved ones on Friday, nearly eight decades after the soldiers died in a plane crash in the final days of the conflict. The older Ikemoto was among 31 men killed when their C-46 transport plane hit a cliff while attempting to land in Okinawa, Japan, on Aug. 13, 1945. Army records indicate only two of the 31 ever received Purple Heart medals, which the military awards to those wounded or killed during action against an enemy.

  • How does the Eurovision voting system work?

    Last year, people from countries outside the contest were able to vote online and on the app.

  • Santana hits tiebreaking HR as Twins beat Blue Jays for 16th win in 18 games

    TORONTO (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a tiebreaking home run in the fifth inning, Joe Ryan pitched seven innings and the Minnesota Twins won for the 16th time in 18 games by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Friday night. Carlos Correa had two hits and scored twice as the Twins won for the ninth time in their past 13 games in Toronto. Jose Miranda added an RBI single as the Twins, who successfully brought their lucky sausage across the Canadian border, extended their road winning streak to seven.

  • Eurovision grand final will conclude this year’s contest

    It is not yet known whether Netherlands entrant Joost Klein will perform.

  • Ferocious solar storm could give US rare view of northern lights

    Noaa issues warning for extreme G5 geomagnetic storm, with effects due to last through weekend and possibly into next week

  • Wildfire triggers evacuation of 'multiple neighbourhoods' in Fort Nelson, B.C.

    FORT NELSON, B.C. — The B.C. Wildfire Service says the tactical evacuation of "multiple neighbourhoods" is underway in Fort Nelson, as an out-of-control wildfire threatens the town in the province's northeast. It says the fire is "highly visible" from the town, and the closure of Highway 97 is expected. The service says the fire is being fought by groundcrews and two helicopters that are bucketing water on the blaze, and air tanker support has been requested. It says that in addition to wildfire

  • Kelowna man bemoans 'awful,' unexpected FortisBC tree work

    Giulio Di Palma was shocked to return home from work one day in April to find the branches on half of his large spruce tree missing and a portion of the top cut off.The tree stood proudly in middle of his front yard, but it's been humbled by the unexpected pruning job, with every one of its street-facing limbs removed."It looks awful," said Di Palma. "I'm the laughing stock on Barkley Road."Di Palma's case serves as an example of how far utility company FortisBC is allowed to go when a tree grow

  • Santana's solo shot lifts Twins over Blue Jays 3-2 in rematch of wild-card series

    TORONTO — Carlos Santana's go-ahead home run in the fifth inning lifted the Minnesota Twins over the Toronto Blue Jays 3-2 on Friday. Jose Miranda's RBI single in the first inning opened the scoring as Minnesota (23-15) won its third straight. Pinch-hitter Max Kepler added another RBI single in the ninth. Joe Ryan (2-2) struck out seven over seven innings, giving up one run on six hits. Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax came out of the Twins bullpen to preserve the win. Isiah Kiner-Falefa's home run i

  • Friends and family of murdered Mexico surfers say the men weren’t reckless, they were nature lovers

    After the brutal murders of three men on a surfing trip in Baja last month, loved ones are finding comfort that surfers have been traveling to the region for decades. Andrea Cavallier reports

  • ASU PD Chief on paid leave following actions during protests in recent weeks

    Arizona State University's police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave pending a review of complaints filed against him.

  • Clarke Schmidt shuts down Rays, Anthony Rizzo drives in both runs in Yankees' 2-0 win

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Clarke Schmidt allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings, Anthony Rizzo homered and drove in two runs, and the New York Yankees beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 on Friday night. Schmidt (4-1) struck out six and walked two as he extended his season-opening run of allowing three or fewer runs to eight starts. Yankees closer Clay Holmes had a stressful ninth inning. He walked two batters with one out and struck out Isaac Paredes looking before pinch-hitter Austin Shenton singled to

  • Toronto tops Minnesota 2-0 to sit one win away from PWHL final

    TORONTO — Jesse Compher scored the go-ahead goal with 1:25 left in the third period to give Toronto a 2-0 win and 2-0 lead in its best-of-five semifinal series against Minnesota in Professional Women's Hockey League playoff action on Friday. Hannah Miller added an empty-netter for top-seeded Toronto in front of 8,581 fans at Coca-Cola Coliseum. Kristen Campbell earned her second straight shutout with 21 saves. She had a 26-save shutout in a 4-0 Game 1 win Wednesday. Maddie Rooney stopped 28 shot

  • Sanctions Be Damned, Putin’s War Machine Is Still Powered by U.S. Parts

    Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/GettyOver two years into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Putin’s aircraft still use U.S., Japanese, and European components. A forthcoming report from the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission, a Ukrainian think tank known as NAKO, found shocking evidence that components from hundreds of foreign companies are present in Russian military planes. Of those foreign made components, over 60 percent came from American manufacturers such