UFC fighter Alden Coria was a 6-to-1 underdog just a couple of fights ago.
The 10-3 flyweight from Texas is one of the UFC’s latest signings. A fighter of Mexican descent, the 27-year-old Coria will make his promotional debut at Noche UFC this Saturday in San Antonio against Diego Lopes’ teammate Alessandro Costa.
Coria is super excited to be fighting in front of his home state crowd, believing the time is now to not just make a name for himself but also to make a run at Alexandre Pantoja’s title.
Coria got on the UFC’s radar in January with a tremendous upset knockout of then Fury FC flyweight champion and top prospect Paris Moran, who had only lost to Coria’s teammate Joshua Van at that point.
Coria cashed in as a massive +600 underdog.
However, months later, Coria’s KO win over Moran no longer reads on his resume ahead of his UFC debut.
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Alden Coria explains why Paris Moran win is now a no-contest
Coria initially felt he had stamped his ticket to the UFC by TKO’ing Moran in the biggest fight of his career at Fury FC 100. However, he’d have to fight again and knock out someone else before he was signed to UFC.
Coria would have been on a four-fight win streak if his win over Moran had not been overturned as a no-contest result due to a positive drug test for marijuana.
“You know, I was on my Nate Diaz s—,” Coria told Bloody Elbow of why his win is now ruled a no-contest, paying homage to UFC star Nate Diaz.
“I was smoking… maybe I shouldn’t have been doing that,” Coria admitted.
“But you know what? Paris knows he lost that fight fair and square and I don’t know why they wanted to run that fight back, because it would have happened again…
“It is what it is,” Coria said of the title win being overturned to a no-contest.
“I won that fight fair and square. If they want to go over technicalities. That’s fine with me, but I know I won that fight,” said Coria.
Alden Coria on upcoming fight with Alessandro Costa
Coria doesn’t seem to be intimidated by next opponent Costa, who is a training partner of former UFC title challenger Diego Lopes.
#1 UFC flyweight contender Joshua Van has been a part of Coria’s training camp at 4oz. Fight Club in Houston, Texas.
“I’m training with Daniel Pineda, Joshua Van, Jacob Silva, one of the Fury FC flyweights, Artenas Young and Joseph Mccamish, my jiu-jitsu coach.
“I think it’s perfect,” Coria said ahead of his fight with Costa this weekend.
“This is going to be a perfect camp for me. I have Josh, one of the best boxers in the UFC, greatest takedown defense in the UFC at the flyweight division…
“I don’t think we’re going to see anything special from Alessandro,” Coria added.
“I don’t think he brings anything crazy to the table. He’s a brawler and then a jiu-jitsu guy. I don’t think he’s going to want to stand with me. I think he’s going to want to try to take me down.
“I’m ready for this fight to go anywhere. The ground, striking—I’m ready for all of that,” said Coria.