Rafael Trujillo kickboxing debut against Michael at War Championship

Rafael Trujillo kickboxing debut is set for War Championship’s November 7 card against Michael, an opponent Trujillo says has trained since 2013. Speaking with FIGHT TALK WITH YOUR BOY THE WHATS NEXT KID, the MMA fighter explained why he wants to test himself in another sport, how he plans to use his reach, and why he expects to take a break before returning to MMA.

What does Rafael Trujillo expect from Michael in his kickboxing debut?

Rafael Trujillo expects a difficult kickboxing debut against Michael because, by his account, Michael has been training since 2013. Trujillo has seen only one training video and does not claim to know much about him. His plan is to use his height and reach to keep Michael outside and choose his shots.

Michael’s experience and training

Trujillo called the difference in experience a test of his fight career. He said he was in second grade in 2013 and does not expect Michael to be a pushover. From the footage he saw, Trujillo believes Michael did a lot of karate growing up and now trains at a gym with a stronger kickboxing focus. He presented those impressions as limited, not as a complete scouting report.

Keeping Michael at a distance

Trujillo is 5 feet 10 inches tall and believes Michael is shorter. He wants to use his long reach, circle on the outside and pick his shots rather than stand directly in front of an opponent he expects to hit hard. The change in rules adds to his nerves: after eight MMA fights, he cannot rely on taking the action to the ground when a standing exchange becomes uncomfortable.

Why is Rafael Trujillo moving from MMA to kickboxing?

Rafael Trujillo is trying kickboxing because he wants to compete in different combat sports, not because he has finished with MMA. He wrestled in high school, competed in jiu-jitsu before his first MMA fight and then concentrated on MMA. A coach raised the kickboxing opportunity after one of Trujillo’s fights in Reno.

Trujillo said he has trained for about three years and has fought competitively for roughly a year. His interest in testing other disciplines remained even after his first MMA fight persuaded him to stick with that sport for a time. When his coach asked whether he wanted a kickboxing fight, Trujillo agreed.

Trujillo summed up his response to that offer:

I'm always down to fight

He described jiu-jitsu as his strongest area in MMA. The kickboxing debut gives him a chance to show stand-up tools that he feels his MMA fights have not always let him display.

How did Rafael Trujillo get the RJD2 nickname?

Rafael Trujillo got the nickname RJD2 from his coach after making a high-pitched sound while caught in jiu-jitsu submissions. The coach thought it sounded like R2D2 and suggested the name before Trujillo’s first fight. Trujillo disliked it at first, but it gradually caught on at his gym and with fans.

He started jiu-jitsu at 18 and recalled making the noise when training partners put him in submissions. Rather than give him the imposing fight name he might have wanted, his coach chose one based on that gym memory.

Trujillo thinks he did not use RJD2 for his first fight. By his second, hearing it around the gym had begun to change his mind; around his third, he started using it. He recalled people reacting to the name when he walked out, and said it has since grown on him.

How is Rafael Trujillo training for his kickboxing debut?

Rafael Trujillo says his coach has shifted his work toward Muay Thai and kickboxing while other fighters at the gym continue their MMA training. Instead of building sessions around takedowns, he is practicing stand-up skills for a K-1-style bout. He also says he runs five miles every day, with sprints included.

Stand-up work for the K-1-style fight

Trujillo described training his elbows, knees and clinch work in Muay Thai. For this fight, he said he can clinch for four seconds and throw knees, so his camp is working on the tools available to him under those rules. He admitted to feeling a little jealous when gym teammates go to the ground, but his own preparation is focused on striking.

Five-mile runs and a track background

For conditioning, Trujillo runs a route near his home until he reaches five miles. His coach regularly tells him to run and has him do telephone-pole sprints during those outings. Trujillo also recalled running extensively during a trip to Washington the previous year.

Running was part of his routine before MMA. In high school, he competed in track as a pole vaulter, high jumper and distance runner. He credits that background with giving him a foundation for the cardio work he does now.

What is Rafael Trujillo’s next fight plan after War Championship?

Rafael Trujillo plans to take a break after the November 7 kickboxing fight and hopes his next bout will be in MMA in February or March. He said he has fought frequently over the past year and wants time for Thanksgiving, Christmas, his family and his girlfriend before committing to another fight.

For the immediate bout, Trujillo wants to show how much he has grown since his first MMA fight. He intends to stand and exchange with Michael while showing striking tools he feels fans have not seen as often from him.

Afterward, his plans are quieter: spend time with loved ones and continue hanging out at the gym. February or March is a target he gave for an MMA return, not a confirmed booking.

What did Rafael Trujillo say about War Championship?

Rafael Trujillo praised War Championship for giving fighters opportunities he says are uncommon where he lives, including fighting out of state and at a casino. He gave a particular acknowledgment to Coach Land and the people involved with the promotion. The November 7 card is due to stream on MILLIONS.

Trujillo said he would not be selling tickets himself for this fight. He directed viewers to the pay-per-view on MILLIONS and thought its price was about $15. Having fought for War Championship before, he said he liked its cards and appreciated how its staff treated fighters.

Fans looking for his updates can find him on Instagram and TikTok under the handle he gave as Rafa’s in BJJ, and on Facebook under Rafael Trujillo.

Who is Rafael Trujillo?

Rafael Trujillo is an MMA fighter from the High Desert with a 3-5-0 record. He is trying to make a name for himself in fighting and plans to continue his career.