Gastón Bolaños cooks the future: “I have everything to be number one and I am not going to stop”

With the firmness and strength of his most lethal blow, Gastón Bolaños says he wants to be a UFC champion. There is no doubt in his statement, and then he corrects himself: he wants to be the first Peruvian UFC champion. But he’s not the only one, of course.

Last night he knew the unpleasantness of falling in the UFC, leaving blood between the fence and the undefeated. It will be mission of Gaston Bolaños turn your recent defeat into a seed of resilience that germinates in future victories. Nothing changes the plans. He wants to give his life in the octagon, in a few words. In return, do not forget his last name, nor the nationality of his courage. He wants to be an inspiration for the country’s next warriors and guide them until Peru becomes a knockout power. This is how ‘The Dreamkiller’, the Peruvian standard bearer, dreams on the first UFC card in 2024.

“The defeats have been key to being able to dedicate myself to the sport in the way I have. They have been defeats that have made me analyze everything, not only as an athlete, but also mentally. In these last three years I have evolved a lot as a complete MMA athlete, not just as a striker,” he reflected before the second of the four fights agreed by the UFC, this time against the American Marcus McGhee.

Last Saturday night they faced each other at the UFC Apex, in Las Vegas, and the Peruvian was knocked out in the second round with a combat time of 3 minutes and 29 seconds. First lesson to correct on this long path full of challenges.

Growth

“My biggest challenge has been to dedicate myself to the sport, to try to be complete. That has helped me. It requires a lot of discipline and I am ready to give it my all until I become champion. I am not going to stop because I want to be the person who brings a UFC title to Peru, that is my dream and I am not going to stop,” he told El Comercio during his visit to Lima at the end of last year.

His first goal is to enter the Top 10 of the bantamweight division. Then, as he rightly says, the “right steps” will open the way to “winning the right fights,” he is aware of this. He knows how to manage his time, he also knows that if he rushes he will not achieve his goals.

“I am becoming the fighter I have always wanted to be and I feel like my style is truly unique. My dream was always to reach the biggest combat sports league and I am here (UFC). I have everything to become number one and take the flag of Peru to the top. I am just reaching my physical and mental limit, entering my prime,” he responds confidently.

look at the future

In the long term, their efforts point to the future of national MMA. Together with fellow Peruvian fighter Ian Escuza, he sees with emotion the growth of the Fight Lab gym, which they founded with a common desire: to raise the level of sports education in Peru.

“This last month [diciembre] In Peru it has been incredible. It has filled me with energy to see the community we have created,” says Gastón Bolaños proudly about the Fight Lab gym, which has offices in Miraflores and Surco.

“Being able to do my ‘camp’ [campo de entrenamiento] “In my gym in Peru it has been quite an experience,” said the Peruvian fighter, who also trained in the United States and Costa Rica since August of last year.

The inspiration

Gastón was in Lima where he had close contact with fighters who follow in his footsteps. Feeling like the reference point for many Peruvians was the necessary motivation that their plans for 2024 needed. The future is now.

“The support of my Peruvian community brings tears to my eyes, all the support I have had is too much. At the age of 13 I moved to the United States and since that moment I have not returned, but I always go out like a Peruvian warrior to give everything,” he says.

Being able to impact the lives of other Peruvians is “gasoline,” he values. “That has always been what drives me. I see that I inspire too many people and that really fills me with emotion. It is something that gives me all the inspiration.”

A break from your busy schedule allows you to give a final reflection. “I want to be remembered as one of the best of all time. I want to be the first UFC world champion from Peru, I repeat. I know I have many steps to go. But if there’s one thing I can say, it’s that I’m very grateful. To the Latin American community too. I have been lucky to have fans all over the world. And all I want is to make them all proud. And more than anything to my Peruvian people,” he says.

And he goes out to fight for the flag of Peru.