Peter Nazario AldanaOnAir interview on his October 24 title fight

The Peter Nazario AldanaOnAir interview covered Nazario’s scheduled October 24 Dead Series title fight at 155 pounds, his 3-0 amateur MMA record and his goal of turning professional after about two more fights. Nazario also told AldanaOnAir why he left law school, what training at Dante Rivera BJJ has meant to him and how a foot injury changed his approach against Alexander Nimitz.

How did Peter Nazario go from college football to MMA?

Peter Nazario returned to combat sports in January 2023, during his sophomore year of college, after years devoted to American football. He said he had boxed and kickboxed while growing up, but football was his passion. Once he entered an MMA gym, he knew he wanted to fight rather than train jiu-jitsu as a hobby.

Nazario played football from childhood until age 22. As one of the smaller players on his team, he was used to facing much larger opponents; combat sports appealed in part because he could compete in a weight class. His first coach, Sajara Eubanks, urged him to begin with wrestling and jiu-jitsu.

Leaving football did not mean leaving contact sports, to his family’s disappointment. Nazario completed a criminal justice degree at Montclair State University but left law school to pursue fighting. He now works as a personal trainer and said he does not regret the decision. Although he still misses the football field, he described a different feeling about daily MMA practice: he looks forward to going. Explaining how clear his intention was from the start, Nazario said:

I knew I was doing this to fight.

What did Peter Nazario say about Dante Rivera BJJ?

Peter Nazario credits Dante Rivera BJJ with giving him a demanding team and a coach he considers a father figure. The gym moved from Freehold to Howell, New Jersey. Nazario said Rivera’s tough style shapes the room, while access to experienced fighters and nearby gyms gives him a wide range of training partners.

Dante Rivera’s approach in Howell

Nazario described Rivera as loud in fighters’ corners, recalling that he could hear him from high in Madison Square Garden when teammate Nick Fianda fought there. More important to Nazario is the culture Rivera sets in training. He said the team feeds off its coach’s intensity and that learning from him has been central to his own development.

The team and its training connections

Nazario said the gym is a Renzo Gracie affiliate connected with Ricardo Almeida. He also named Nick Katona MMA and Frankie Edgar’s gym as cross-training partners, and said some teammates have trained at Marquez MMA. He pointed to Nick Galante, Luke Fernandez and Eric Nolan among the fighters around him. For Nazario, seeing New Jersey teammates advance without leaving their home gym makes representing it especially meaningful.

What is Peter Nazario’s next fight, and how did he build his MMA game?

Peter Nazario said he was 3-0 as an amateur and was preparing to fight for a 155-pound Dead Series title on October 24 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. He began with jiu-jitsu, then added kickboxing adapted for MMA. His first amateur win came by submission, and his next two came by decision.

On the feet, Nazario said he has worked with former UFC fighter Carl Roberson. He still calls jiu-jitsu his safe space: Rivera expects him on the mats in a gi at least five days a week. Nazario enjoys training in the gi, though he said no-gi work translates more directly to an MMA fight.

The scheduled title bout is also a chance to test more of his game. Nazario described his opponent as someone whose fights had not lasted beyond 75 seconds, whether he finished or was finished. Nazario expects an aggressive start and said he wants to be ready to grapple, wrestle or strike rather than rely on one strength.

How did Peter Nazario prepare in camp for the Dead Series title fight?

Peter Nazario said his camp combined strategy work, two hard sparring days and rounds against fresh partners. Although his amateur bouts use three-minute rounds, he trained for five-minute rounds to build endurance. He also treated the final week’s weight cut as a major part of preparation for the 155-pound fight.

Fresh opponents and five-minute rounds

One addition to the camp was what Nazario called shark-tank sparring: a new opponent entered each round. He sometimes used three-minute rounds when working on technique and fight pace, but the longer rounds became familiar with practice. His friend Mike Albanese was a main training partner, while professional fighters in the room offered other looks.

Alexander Nimitz and the foot injury

Nazario said he entered his previous fight against Alexander Nimitz with a microfracture in his foot. He wanted to show his striking against an opponent he respected as a puncher, but after throwing several body kicks, his foot hurt and he returned to the takedown. Nazario said he believes his first three fights have not yet shown the full extent of his striking.

Outside sparring, Nazario said prepared meals from sponsor Clean Row made it easier to manage food during camp. He also worked with Cut Pro on his weight cut. Neither arrangement made cutting weight enjoyable, he said, but having meals ready removed one daily decision.

Which fighters and football players influenced Peter Nazario?

Peter Nazario said a Colby Covington fight with Kamaru Usman helped him imagine competing in MMA while he was still in college. As a fighter, he studies Sean Brady’s grappling and top pressure and also learns from teammate Nick Galante. In American football, he singled out Baker Mayfield as his favorite NFL player.

Studying Sean Brady and Nick Galante

Nazario said he watches Brady’s fights for details he can apply to his own style, particularly the grappling and guillotines. He sees similarities between Brady and Galante, whom he described primarily as a wrestler and submission fighter. Galante’s knockout on Dana White’s Contender Series stood out to Nazario precisely because it showed another side of his teammate’s game.

Baker Mayfield’s attitude

Mayfield appeals to Nazario for his attitude and the path he took through college football and the NFL. Nazario remains a fan of the sport he played for most of his life, even though his own competitive focus has moved to MMA.

What did Peter Nazario say about MMA rules and fight-day rituals?

Peter Nazario said he would remove oblique kicks from MMA because he believes their potential to injure a knee outweighs their value. He also said wrestling and MMA grappling require different skills. On fight day, he avoids lucky meals or other superstitions and tries to stay calm about what he cannot control.

Oblique kicks and grappling rules

Nazario argued that high-level fighters have other ways to win without using a technique he considers risky to an opponent’s knee. Discussing wrestling matches involving MMA fighters, he also cautioned against treating straight wrestling, jiu-jitsu and wrestling adapted for MMA as identical. Each asks athletes to solve a different set of problems.

No lucky meal before a fight

Nazario said he has no lucky socks or set post-weigh-in meal. His approach is to control his preparation and leave the outcome to God. Before his last fight, which he said took place at about 9 p.m., he did not eat during the day because he was not hungry—not because of a planned ritual.

When does Peter Nazario want to turn professional?

Peter Nazario wants to turn professional in about two fights and eventually pursue the UFC or Dana White’s Contender Series. He said challenging himself against strong opponents now matters to that goal. After the scheduled Dead Series title fight, he expected to have another amateur bout before reassessing his next step.

Nazario viewed the title opponent’s size and aggressive starts as part of that challenge. He said the opponent was coming down to 155 pounds and would provide a test of his strength. Rather than wait for easier matchups, Nazario wants his remaining amateur experience to prepare him for the level he hopes to reach.