For 40-Year-Old Legacy Champ Jorge Patino, Retirement is Not Even Close

Following his most recent win in Legacy FC this past March, promotional lightweight champion Jorge “Macaco” Patino has split his last two fights, drawing one and winning the other.

What makes his fight results interesting is the fact that he admittedly fought better in his draw than his win.

In Patino’s fight in Pancrase against titlist Isao Kobayashi just two weeks after his last Legacy victory, he feels he out-performed his Japanese opponent, and it’s only promotional politics that rendered the outcome a draw.

“The fight I had in Pancrase in Japan, he was champion in Pancrase and I beat him all three rounds, but they did not want to give me the victory because he is champion,” said Patino. “They did not want me to beat the Pancrase champion, so what do they do, they (ruled a) draw the in fight.”

Patino followed up his draw with a win over UFC/Bellator veteran Efrain Escudero in a bout made harder because he had celebrated his birthday only days prior to the fight and had a difficult time cutting down to lightweight.

“At 40 years old, my body’s metabolism is not too fast as a young guy,” said Patino. “I went to party to celebrate my birthday two days before the fight and I ate like animal and gained a lot of weight.

“In the second round I feel tired, my arms were heavy, but I able to beat him. (Escudero)  is a pro at wrestling, an (All-American) wrestler, and I put him down two times and for sure I beat him on points. He complained a lot (about the split-decision), but he did not knock me out or put me down, so I took the fight win points.”

Patino (34-14-2, 1 NC) will look to close out 2013 with his second consecutive win (and eight in nine fights) when he takes on top prospect Carlos Diego Ferreira (8-0) for the Legacy FC 155-pound championship on Friday in Houston.

“Carlos is a tough opponent,” said Patino. “He’s young, he’s undefeated, has good BJJ, and I like him because he comes forward and does not just do grappling. I can’t describe how I can beat him, but I know this is true. I trained very hard, I am focused, and I know the weight (cut) now.

“Experience is very important too, but it is more important that I stick to the game plan, push forward, and push him. That is what I think I will do, I will push Carlos, show him my power, take him down and use my ground and pound.”

At 40, Patino shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, as he told MMAWeekly.com, the number doesn’t reflect how he feels and because of that, he’s not quitting any time soon.

“40 years old is just an age,” he said. “I think like a young guy and feel like a young guy. I don’t feel like I’m 40. I’m always joking with my students; I’m still strong and have a healthy life.

“I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t do drugs; I focus on my job. I never think about stopping fighting or that I’m too old or too tired. One day I will retire, but I don’t know what day it will happen.”