Antonio Banuelos Has a Family in 'The Pit' and Is Excited for Fight at UFC 126

UFC 126 will feature a bantamweight clash between two of the division's most talented fighters when Antonio Banuelos (18-6) squares off against former champion Miguel Torres.

Banuelos entered the sport professionally in 2001, under the tutelage of renowned coach John Hackleman at “The Pit” in Arroyo Grande, CA.

The Pit has been home to Banuelos since the beginning of his career and when the bantamweight contender has a fight on his schedule it means one thing: intensity.

“It changes when I have a fight because normally we’re working out to stay in shape, so when someone has a fight the intensity picks up and John changes it. He makes us do what we have to do and we get the job done.”

To Banuelos, “The Pit” is more than a gym, it’s a family. Hackleman and UFC Hall of Famer Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell have spent countless hours by the bantamweight’s side preparing for fights, and the knowledge shared is invaluable.

”Chuck is a legend and having him and John behind me is great. They’ve been in this game a long time and they know what I’m going through. When they tell me to do something, I believe in it and have faith in it,” he explained to Bleacher Report. “It’s like a family atmosphere, John is like my second Dad and Chuck is my best friend and mentor. It’s great having them and they’ve done it all, so when they tell me to do something I know it’s going to work.”

With a family of support and advice behind him, the bantamweight closed out an eight year run with the WEC last September. Banuelos spent a large portion of his professional career in the organization and tasted victory nine times, with his final fight being a decisive win over Chad George who was 6-1 in his last seven fights heading into the matchup.

“The last fight was huge for me, it was nice because I had so many with them and it being my last WEC it felt good to finish off my career there and move into the UFC with a win.”

His organizational debut comes next Saturday night against Miguel Torres on the main card of UFC 126, which takes place from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV and “The Pit” trained fighter feels it’s an honor to be doing so.

“It’s an honor to be opening up for this pay-per-view, it’s going to be a big fight for me and I’m expecting to see great things. I am excited and I think that I match up well against Miguel. He’s a tough guy and I’m going to have to come with my A-game.”

Torres at one point in his career was the WEC bantamweight champion and had won 17 consecutive fights. However, this is a fight Banuelos’ team has long been in favor of and he expects to further solidfy himself at the top of the division come February 5.

“Chuck and John have always liked this matchup for me and I’ve been in the hunt for the title a long time. So, when he had the title everyone was gunning for him and now he’s trying to get the title back,” Banuelos said. “I still want to get the title and now he’s just another person in my way of me trying to get it. I have to get through him and I’m excited for it.”

When Torres’ name is mentioned, a change in his tone soon follows, led by nothing less than pure enthusiasm that he has an opportunity to defeat the former champion live on pay-per-view and state his case as a title contender.

“I’m pumped, and I’m climbing up the walls right now. When they called and told Chuck, he didn’t even ask me, he just said “yes,” then called and told me I was fighting,” the bantamweight explained. “I get to fight in the UFC and on pay-per-view against a quality opponent, it’s so exciting that I really can’t put it into words and I’ve been training my ass off. Expect fireworks the night of February 5.”

His excitement is evident and all the extensive training by Banuelos and his team will be left inside of the Octagon in eight days with the ultimate goal of making it one fight closer towards the championship.