Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo Combat Talk Sophia interview on next fight

In the Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo Combat Talk Sophia interview, the amateur MMA fighter said he wants a first-round knockout in his November 21 bout at Magnanimous Brewing in Tampa. He also told Combat Talk Sophia that he is on a six-fight losing streak, wants to change his ground-focused approach and hopes to make his professional debut by the middle of next year.

Why does Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo want to turn professional?

Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo wants to turn professional because he has watched opponents from the amateur scene make that move and believes he can do the same. He is not ready to name a team for that step: he said he is still looking for the right foundation and hopes to make his pro debut by the middle of next year.

DiMeo described seeing former opponents turn pro as a concrete reason to consider his own next step. “And I just know that could be me,” he said. His stated timetable is a hope, not an announced professional booking.

Finding the right team remains part of that plan. He returned to the need for a good foundation later in the conversation when discussing what he would do if his next amateur fight did not go his way.

When is Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo’s next fight?

Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo said his next fight is an amateur MMA bout at 145 pounds on November 21 at Magnanimous Brewing in Tampa, with Real Cage Fighting. He did not yet know his opponent. His plan was to win that bout, end his year of competition there and prepare for the following year.

The November 21 bout in Tampa

DiMeo said he has been with the promotion for three years. He identified the date, venue and weight for the upcoming fight, but gave no opponent’s name. The bout matters to his plans beyond a single night: he said he did not expect to compete again after November.

What comes after the bout

A win would let him close the year the way he wants before turning his attention to next year. His ambition to go pro remains tied to finding a suitable team, rather than simply following opponents who have already made the transition.

What did Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo say about his jiu-jitsu and losing streak?

Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo said his jiu-jitsu experience helps distinguish him at 145 pounds, but he also acknowledged a recurring problem: he keeps getting caught in a particular submission. He said he is on a six-fight losing streak and wants fans and Real Cage Fighting to see that he can win again.

A strength that has also shaped his fights

DiMeo credited his experience in jiu-jitsu while also recognizing the quality of other fighters at 145 pounds. He did not identify the submission that has been catching him. His assessment was not that grappling has stopped being useful, but that relying on it so heavily has narrowed what he shows in fights.

Speaking openly about six losses

He did not avoid his recent results. DiMeo said he has had his hand raised before and feels he has come close many times during this stretch, while acknowledging that coming close is not a win. He said the promotion has continued to give him opportunities because it sees something in him; that is his assessment of its decision, not a statement from the promotion.

For DiMeo, the point of speaking plainly about the skid was to explain what he wants to prove next. He wants the fans and the promotion to see the ability he believes he still has, rather than ask them to overlook the results.

How does Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo plan to change his fighting style?

Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo plans to show more striking instead of automatically taking fights to the ground to pursue submissions. He described his current approach as one-dimensional, saying most of his fights end up on the ground because jiu-jitsu is what he has trained most. He believes his striking is ready to be seen.

That change starts with recognizing his own habits. DiMeo said that in “nine times out of 10,” his fights go to the ground and he tries to attack a submission. He wants fans to see more than the skill he has relied on most often.

He said he has trained with good striking coaches and has good striking himself. For the next bout, his stated intention is to keep the fight standing rather than fall back on his usual route to a submission. It is a plan for the fight, not a claim that his previous style has already changed.

Why does Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo see his next fight as a last chance?

Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo sees the November 21 bout as a personal last chance to win with Real Cage Fighting before taking a break to reassess. He stressed that the promotion has not told him this is his final opportunity. If he loses, he plans to take time off, find a good team and try to come back.

DiMeo framed the stakes as a decision he is making for himself after three years with the promotion. Before describing what a loss would mean, he put it this way:

I'm giving myself this my last opportunity.

That distinction matters to his plans. He was not announcing that Real Cage Fighting had set an ultimatum or that he would leave MMA after a loss. The path he described was a pause, followed by a search for the team and foundation he also considers necessary for a future professional debut.

What does Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo want fans to see against his next opponent?

Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo wants fans to see an aggressive stand-up performance and said he is aiming for a first-round knockout in his next fight. He also praised the fans who fill the venue for Real Cage Fighting events. A knockout is his goal, not a prediction of a result against an opponent who had not been named.

After explaining his intention to move away from a ground-first approach, DiMeo gave a more specific picture of what he wants on November 21: no ground exchange, a direct attack and sustained pressure. He said his cardio has been good lately, which adds to his confidence in that plan.

His message to fans was to stay tuned. He said the promotion has a strong base of supporters who pack the house each time, and he wants to give them—and the promotion—a performance that shows the improvement he has been talking about.

Who is Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo?

Anthony EL Carmino DiMeo is an amateur MMA fighter competing in Real Cage Fighting in the Tampa Bay area. He said he spent much of his childhood in Baltimore.