Panthers fan Tyson Pedro not worried about NRL in Vegas as he prepares for last fight on UFC contract

There’s a lot on Tyson Pedro’s mind as he prepares for this weekend’s fights in Las Vegas - but the impending NRL matches are not among them.

Tyson Pedro fights Vitor Petrino in Las Vegas this weekend. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

He’s half a world away, but Tyson Pedro could easily be confused for being in Sydney considering the amount of NRL jerseys he’s seen this week.

Staying at the New York New York in Las Vegas, Pedro – who fights the undefeated Vitor Petrino at the UFC Apex this weekend – has even run into a few NRL first graders out and about in Sin City.

“I saw Daly Cherry-Evans on the strip,” he told this masthead. “There’s heaps of NRL shirts around – heaps.

“Even in the elevators, there’s lots of Australian accents, it’s pretty crazy.

“I’m actually surprised by how many there are over here. Man, business must be good.”

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The Sea Eagles have been training at the UFC Performance Institute, about 15 minutes off the strip this week ahead of their round one game against the Rabbitohs.

Vitor Petrino scores a stunning knockout of Modestas Bukauskas. Picture: Getty Images

Pedro would’ve been more excited about running into them at the PI if they’d been a different team.

Pedro is a diehard Panthers fan, and is business partners with Penrith superstar Nathan Cleary. 

The Western Sydney fighter has also spent time as the Warriors’ wrestling coach, having spent plenty of time across the ditch training alongside Israel Adesanya at Auckland’s City Kickboxing.

“I saw the Sea Eagles down there yesterday, actually,” he said. “A coach came past and he was like, ‘We’re gonna teach you some stuff about rugby league – there’s no shoulder pads here’ and then he pointed to me.

“I’m like, ‘Brother, I’m from Western Sydney – Go the Panthers!’”

When called upon to take part in a media event to promote the NRL and UFC in Las Vegas this week, Pedro sneakily pulled out his Panthers bucket hat.

It’s a slice of home, but Pedro says he isn’t even thinking about the footy games that will be played just a few kilometres away on the weekend.

“I’m in my own world at the moment, brother,” he said. “I’m not too worried about the NRL…I’m about to get punched in the face on the weekend.”

There’s another reason it’s a big weekend for the 32-year-old father of one.

This is the last fight on his current contract, meaning he could very well be fighting for his future.

But far from adding to the pressure, Pedro says he’s leaving all that to his manager.

“I’m just going out there to have the best performance and get the job done,” he said. “Everything else will sort itself out.”

He hasn’t been handed an easy beat either.

Petrino is a perfect 10-0, and is coming off a stunning second round knockout win over Modestas Bukauskas in November.

Pedro scored one of the best wins of his career over Anton Turkalj at UFC 294 in Sydney last year. Picture: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Pedro is coming off a brilliant knockout win of his own, against Anton Turkalj in Sydney in September, but prior to that lost a decision to Bukauskas in Perth last February.

Pedro bristles when asked about Petrino’s plans of using him to climb up the light-heavyweight rankings.

“Why would he pick someone lower than him to bounce himself into the higher rankings?” he said. “If he really wants to make a statement, go call out someone higher than him.

“He’s called me out – and after he beat Modestas, and Modestas beat me – maybe he thinks I’ll be an easy fight.

“He’s gonna be in for a shock. I’m going to have a tactically perfect fight and take that 0 off him.

“I don’t think he’s been tested properly yet, and I’m coming to test him.”

Originally published as Panthers fan Tyson Pedro not worried about NRL in Vegas as he prepares for last fight on UFC contract