Humberto Bandenay refuses to be a flash-in-the-pan in the UFC history books.
It’s been almost seven years since Bandenay (27-9) was informed he wouldn’t be re-signed by the UFC.
“It was very difficult,” Bandenay told MMA Junkie through a Spanish-language interpreter. “I questioned myself a lot and wondered if I really wanted to continue this career. At that moment, I felt like I had lost everything. But with time, I realized it wasn’t just about being part of a company. It was about who I am, my lifestyle, and why I started this journey.”
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Even following his UFC departure, there were stumbles on the regional scene. Bandenay lost twice, but he won a lot more. He’s 13-2 since the three-fight UFC skid against Gabriel Benitez, Austin Arnett, and Eduardo Garagorri. He’s won three fights in a row, all by finish. His most recent came on March 6 vs. Amin Gasimov for 559 Fights.
“Since leaving the UFC, I’ve reinvented myself as a fighter,” Bandenay said. “A lot of time has passed, but I’m still here, still working and evolving. I truly believe I can come back to the UFC stronger and more mature, and prove that people can earn second chances when they fully commit to their journey.”
At 22, Bandenay signed with the UFC. By 24, he thought his career might be over. It was a tough pill to swallow – and he hopes the promotion realizes a lot has changed since then.
“I arrived in the UFC very young and without much experience fighting on such big stages,” Bandenay said. “I had a great fight at first, but then I had visa problems and had to return to Peru to continue training. Things didn’t go well during that time, and eventually, I wasn’t re-signed by the UFC. I also knew I wasn’t training at the level I needed back then.”
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Through his work at Team Oyama in Irvine, Calif., Bandenay has remained focused on the process, step by step, day by day. But in the back of his mind, the goals remain the same: to become UFC champion and make his native country of Peru proud.
“I’m sure the UFC matchmakers and my management team at Iridium Sports are already working on making that return happen,” Bandenay said. “… I want to show my country that second chances do exist, that you should never give up and always fight for what you want. Just stay tuned to my career, because ‘The Peruvian Problem’ will be a real problem for everyone.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Former top UFC prospect hopes for another chance seven years later
