Bronx native Leo “The Mexicutioner” Muniz would be the sole USA consultant at Copa Combate, an MMA match promoted by Combate Global that options fighters from eight totally different international locations. As his Mexico-themed apparel could usually counsel, Leo Muniz could be very happy with his Mexican heritage, however will proudly rep the purple, white, and blue when he competes on Dec.12.
The COPA COMBATE match (airing stay on Univision, TUDN USA and Paramount+) requires that the winner should win three contests in a single evening, making it one of many hardest tournaments in all of sports activities. Because of the nature of competing in a trio of fights, the motion is usually faster-paced, with extra KO’s and submissions than you’ll sometimes count on to see.
With this model of MMA being branded as “A lot Extra Motion,” the eventual winner will declare a lofty prize of $100,000 for surviving the sector. Muniz explains how he approaches such an epic check of his mettle, and the way he balances elite sport with a busy family life.
“The adrenaline that you just get, each time you step within the cage, man, that’s so distinctive, it’s so uncommon,” says Muniz (6-1-0). “It’s one thing that you’ll solely discover stepping in that stroll. The preparation, and making that stroll to step into the cage, seeing your opponent stroll in, that’s memorable to me and it’s one thing that I’ve enjoying in thoughts day in, day trip.”
For Leo Muniz, MMA is extra of an all-consuming lifestyle fairly than merely being his profession. “I attempt to get a skill-work session in, a minimum of on daily basis,” he says. “That doesn’t essentially imply that I’m going to be sparring every day, however there must be some skill-work growth in there, as a result of it’s sports activities particular. Then, energy and conditioning clever, I’m doing periods on Tuesday and Thursdays.” For essentially the most half, Muniz’s household travels with him. As the daddy of 4 youngsters, combating is definitely within the blood as his spouse, and two of his kids are additionally coaching in MMA. “It’s a household factor,” he beams. “I believe that’s one of many key issues on how we balance this lifestyle. Everybody’s on board, and we aren’t on separate ships. In case you see me, the probabilities are you will note my household.”
MMA is a marathon and never a dash
Muniz performed soccer in his youth, and would ceaselessly run observe as a part of his coaching. It’s a instrument that he’s introduced with him for MMA prep, and feels that it provides so much to his arsenal. “It retains the lungs going,” the Mexicutioner says. “Operating three or 4 miles teaches you to remain mentally sturdy, how to pace yourself, and never blow all the things out in a single shot. Operating is slightly totally different from sprinting, so I can relate to [running] so far as combating goes.”
Constructing again stronger
After Muniz tore his MCL and ACL he regarded to weight coaching as a strategy to rebuild stronger. As of late, Leo Muniz is a giant proponent of weight coaching, and his private bests embrace a 325-pound squat, 415-pound deadlift, and a 225-pound bench press. Not dangerous for a 135-pound bantamweight! “I discovered so much,” says Muniz. “simply going by that course of.”
Landmines for explosive energy
Muniz has been engaged on energy and conditioning on the new WARROOM Gym in Whippany, NJ, and he’s turned his consideration on being extra explosive. A method that he has been in a position to work on that is by utilization of the landmine press. “I’ve been studying find out how to throw all the things from the hip,” he says. “Utilizing the landmine press is one thing that generates from the foot, to ankle extension, knee extension, hip extension, which is strictly what we do once we are punching. You already know, we’d like some extent of contact on the bottom and we’d like to have the ability to hearth all cylinders on the identical time, and that’s just about the way you begin creating knockout energy.”
Nothing ever grows within the consolation zone
Muniz heads into the COPA COMBATE match in nice kind. He earned back-to-back wins towards Group Alpha Male member, Hector “El Matador” Fajardo again on Might 29 and Aug. 13 to safe his entry. However how will he practice for 3 very totally different challenges in a single evening? Is it doable to organize for the pains that he’ll face within the match?
“At evening, we’re doing pad work, and we’re doing drills, as a result of it’s three fights in a single evening, so if you concentrate on it, the overall rounds would add as much as a championship battle — that’s 25 minutes.” says Muniz. “So, it’s one thing that we’ve got needed to put together for, and add on after the lifting periods, simply because the muscle groups are shocked and slightly bit full of blood, and also you’re slightly fatigued.”
Muniz shouldn’t be afraid of a problem. He relishes the prospect to push his physique to the boundaries and has used sparring to duplicate his upcoming expertise as greatest as doable. “Sparring is all the time a recent, new man,” says Muniz. “It’s a psychological problem as effectively, as a result of you’ll be able to’t simply give attention to one man. With three fights in a single evening, and three totally different opponents, your mindset has to have the ability to modify actual fast. It’s a problem that I like as a result of nothing ever grows within the consolation zone.”
Restoration is vital
Leo Muniz says that grabbing as a lot sleep as doable is essential for ensuring that his physique heals to its full potential. The fighter additionally enjoys ice baths with the intention to break down lactic acid, and he’s additionally beginning to explore the benefits of controlled breathing and meditation. “[Working on breathing] actually helps to construct up the lung capability,” he says.
When it comes to making weight, Muniz works with the nutritionist coach, Mike Hernandez, and adopts a easy strategy with no gimmicks, primarily based round lowering fat and carbs, whereas maintaining his protein consumption excessive with the intention to restore his muscle groups.
Eye on the prize
So, what would “The Mexicutioner” spend his $100,000 prize cash on? “Properly, we’re most likely gonna use that cash to maneuver to New Jersey,” says Muniz. “As a result of we do stay in Pennsylvania and all my coaching occurs in New Jersey, and recently I’ve been commuting to go to work, so I’ve been driving greater than 6½ hours each day, so transferring to New Jersey will most likely be the fitting transfer, proper now, not simply on saving cash, however extra on saving time, which in flip will, I hope, give me extra time with my household.” Feels like a shrewd funding to us!
Muniz will face Pierre Daguzan of France within the first stage of COPA COMBATE live from Miami, FL, on Dec. 12.
