Daniel Marcos, the story of the Peruvian fighter who suffered a head damage earlier than signing with UFC: “They gave me 15 stitches”

Daniel Marcos is among the predominant Peruvian representatives within the UFC. Credit score: UFC

The calendar marked September 13, 2022, and though that date appeared to haven’t any relevance, it lastly remained marked in his coronary heart for eternity. However earlier than that day arrived, one of many happiest of his life, Daniel Marcos needed to undergo a path stuffed with tribulations. After months of coaching with out something protected to help him, with out discovering alternatives to shine removed from Peru, the fighter bought uninterested in his fists and commenced washing dishes in a restaurant. The state of affairs had turn out to be unsustainable. However destiny had one thing higher in retailer for him inside a cage.

Whereas he was rinsing, the decision he had been ready for for a number of years got here. He did not hesitate for a second: he stop after simply in the future of labor. His dream was non-negotiable. The remainder is historical past. ‘Soncora’, as he’s recognized inside and out of doors the octagon, signed a contract with the UFC after an excellent combat, the place the pinnacle damage he suffered shortly earlier than was placed on the again burner.

In an interview with Infobae Peru, Daniel Marcos tells his story and the trail he has taken to meet his dream of taking the nation to the highest of MMA. An undefeated fighter helps him and his ambition will certainly take him additional than he has already reached.

The favored ‘Soncora’ as soon as once more gave Peru a victory by unanimous resolution within the ‘bantamweight’ class. (Video: UFC)

– Have you ever at all times needed to be an MMA fighter?

No, I found blended martial arts once I was 19 or 20. I used to be working promoting cell telephones in Peru and one time my good friend instructed me to go practice at an “something goes” health club, because it was recognized. We seemed and located one in Pueblo Libre. We preferred it, as a result of my coach was there, who was slicing weight, at the moment he was a fighter. And I preferred every little thing, the bars, the burden minimize, the pads… I preferred that feeling. I felt an excellent power and I stated: ‘that is it’. That is the place my complete profession started. I by no means considered or had any notion of MMA as a sport, as a result of in Peru and in South America, normally, it is all about soccer.

Out of nowhere, MMA got here into my life. I believed it was only a interest, however I preferred it much more once I had my first wrestling competitions, which I received. I preferred the sensation and so forth, time glided by till I had my first novice combat after which I by no means stopped preventing once more.

– Earlier than getting into this world, did not you follow another sport?

No, no sport, solely soccer, which I at all times performed with all my buddies in San Miguel. I did play that, however not another contact sport. I preferred preventing within the streets, I’ve at all times preferred preventing. I by no means bought to coach in a soccer academy as a result of I did not have the monetary assets, however I participated in championships and in my neighborhood there have been a whole lot of us who performed ball all day. Throughout holidays we had been there from morning till six within the afternoon and we did not cease, however I could not play it due to cash.

– What was your life like earlier than the UFC?

Within the pure transition to MMA, I used to be an individual who labored in gross sales till in regards to the fourth or fifth combat. I labored promoting cell strains. I at all times preferred to be on the road and promote, that was the best way to cowl my bills, creating alternatives. Then my coach instructed me that I could not do each on the similar time. I labored as a supply particular person, doing storage for a good friend who helped me so much, I used to be additionally a coach, however when the pandemic occurred, that was the toughest factor, as a result of every little thing closed in Peru and my progress grew to become a lot slower. The one factor I may do was work promoting masks on the streets and within the markets. I additionally did supply throughout that point and I at all times created alternatives to excel and I skilled till I bought covid. This illness modified my mind-set, I wanted to be 100% coaching. Additionally, I’ve a household and I needed to cowl the bills of the home.

It was very troublesome, as a result of I did not have as a lot help as I believed I’d have, however I by no means misplaced my manner. I considered leaving the game and dealing in a job like being a supervisor or administrator sooner or later, however I did not need to be left with the sensation of not doing what one actually loves. I could not reside with that and I risked every little thing I had 100%. I stated: “if that is my factor, let God deal with it,” as a result of I’m an individual who trusts the Lord so much. So, I attempted to make my dream come true. I keep in mind that I bought married on January 19 with my spouse, nonetheless within the pandemic; within the afternoon there was a small reception and within the night I used to be flying to america as a result of I had a possibility to meet my want.

Daniel Marcos instructed how he handled the pandemic stage as an MMA fighter. (Video: Infobae Peru)

– How did your signing with UFC come about?

I arrived in america in January and skilled exhausting till July, once I thought I could not take it anymore. I needed to work and discover cash, as a result of my household additionally wanted it. I began washing dishes in a Peruvian restaurant and that very same day I began, they instructed me there was a combat for the Contender Sequence, which is an occasion the place they offer you alternatives to get to the UFC. I labored there for simply in the future, I left every little thing as a result of it was my probability and I did not need to waste it. I left very late at night time and the following day I began coaching.

I had an accident as a result of I used to be driving a two-wheeled scooter, and out of nowhere the tire burst on the best way to coaching. Then, I flew, I used to be going 40 kilometers per hour and I cracked my head. They gave me 15 stitches, I used to be all scraped up and there was nonetheless a month left till the combat. Individuals did not know that, however I needed to combat it doesn’t matter what, it was what I used to be ready for. Thank God it was a great combat and I received the contract. All the things that occurred to me was value it, as a result of it has made me really feel like a greater particular person and has made me develop as an athlete.

– Why ‘Soncora’? How did that nickname come about?

I used to be born once I was 12 or 13, when my buddies and I’d hang around on the San Miguel towers all day lengthy taking part in soccer. We at all times put our hearts into every little thing, I used to be a warrior, for 50 cents I’d give every little thing. In my neighborhood they gave me the nickname Corazón and in the event you repeat that phrase many occasions you hear ‘Soncora’. Once they instructed me that I accepted as a result of it is my neighborhood, however once I bought to the fights I did not need them to name me that, however one other nickname. However after they heard my instructor name me ‘Soncora’, that mark caught. It seems like a surname and many individuals get confused. However that is how they know me and it’ll stick with me for the remainder of my life.

Daniel Marcos and the way he dealt along with his head damage earlier than successful the UFC contract. (Video: Infobae Peru)

– What are the components wanted to be a UFC-level fighter?

For me, self-discipline is crucial, it overcomes any idea you’ve got. It’s what’s going to make you stand out from everybody else, when it comes to the place you need to go. The second factor is to have a piece plan. If in case you have a piece plan, you observe it and you might be disciplined, you possibly can go far. The UFC is the hardest occasion of all. If you’re the strongest in your nation, do not suppose that it’s the similar within the UFC, as a result of the persons are too powerful, they’ve a whole lot of expertise, they’ve a whole lot of time coaching; so you must work tougher than regular, be constant and consider in what you do.

– Is the psychological concern vital?

We work on the psychological side in varied methods, relying on the camp and the way shut the combat is. While you go to struggle you put together a lot and you do not really feel feelings. You do not know if you are going to come again, if you are going to reside, if you are going to be with one leg or just one arm. So feelings must be completely blocked, you possibly can’t really feel something. You go to the job you must do and you are going to come again, you are not serious about whether or not you are going to kill him or not. That is the identical manner I really feel, as a result of after we combat it is like a one-on-one struggle. So I am going out to do my job, I’ve gone by way of what I’ve needed to undergo to get right here and I am going into the cage to provide it my all. That is the mentality I’ve and likewise making an attempt to interrupt the hope of the particular person in entrance of you. How? When he would not consider in what he can do.

In my mind-set, breaking hope is making him consider {that a} punch will not harm you, that he will not have an opportunity to beat you or knock you down, that he has to depart the combat. For me, that is spectacular, that is an important factor, as a result of right here everybody is hard, everybody will get punched within the face, everyone seems to be minimize up, everybody fights bloodied. However once you break somebody’s hope, you break their thoughts.

Daniel Marcos spoke about his preparation as an MMA fighter. (Video: Infobae Peru)

– Are you afraid of a deadly damage?

I do not take into consideration any of these issues, since you appeal to what you concentrate on. It is a powerful race like another, however I do not take into consideration this stuff. You put together your self, you possibly can’t go to combat with a high-performance particular person with out making ready your self sufficient. It’s a must to put together your self bodily, psychologically and spiritually, in each sense.

– How did you’re feeling in your final combat? That is already three wins within the UFC…

I felt superb. It is good to characterize Peru at a excessive stage and present that there’s a Peruvian who desires to be a world champion and who continues to combat to be higher, continues to be taught. I do know that I’ve way more to supply, that is what I really feel and I do know that higher issues are coming. That is the start of one thing nice. I really feel that I used to be born for this, to be a world champion. My intention is to make historical past for Peru, so I am not going to depart till the UFC involves the nation and I am a world champion. I’ve that in my thoughts and in my coronary heart. I’ll proceed to gather issues in order that they see that now we have expertise.

– You stay undefeated in your profession, what does that imply to you?

It represents the self-discipline I’ve when doing issues. Additionally, it is rather good for Peru to see that it’s doable and that nothing is inconceivable on this life. Being undefeated is superb, I’m right here to face the very best on the earth.

– How do you’re feeling about being within the MMA elite?

I take it in one of the simplest ways and at all times humble. I’ve my manner of doing issues and I’m nonetheless the identical as once I arrived on the UFC. I stay agency. I’m a humble, hard-working one that desires many extra issues. I’m very proud of the place I’m right this moment, however happier as a result of I’m nonetheless the identical ‘Soncora’ within the mind-set, seeing issues and feeling them.

Daniel Marcos defeated John Castaneda by unanimous resolution at UFC Louisville. Credit score: Getty Photos

– Do you suppose Peru can proceed including fighters to the UFC?

I’m 100% certain that many extra will proceed to affix. What is going on right this moment with Peru is what was coming a very long time in the past. The one factor I can say to all Peruvians is to proceed supporting nationwide expertise, as a result of all of us athletes are working to make it doable for the UFC to return to Peru. I do not suppose it is inconceivable, as a result of we’re a rustic that has too many athletes with a whole lot of competitors. In South America, after Brazil, Peru is subsequent. It has at all times been like that.

– What’s the subsequent step in your profession?

The subsequent step is admittedly to be prepared for any alternative that comes. I am making ready myself already, despite the fact that I’ve completely nothing. I hope to be within the prime 15 of the division, that is what I am in search of this yr, and so forth to get to combat for the title and win it.

– What do you dream with?

Turning into a world champion, having the belt round my waist. I additionally need to make historical past by bringing the UFC to Peru. I’ve come to the UFC to make historical past worldwide, nobody goes to take that out of my head, nobody goes to inform me I am unable to.