Ten fights in nine years? TUF China Finale's undefeated Alberto Mina explains

HONG KONG – Alberto Mina has fought professionally in MMA since 2005. Yet he’s competed only 10 times.

While the 31-year-old Brazilian has won all of his fights, his resume is filled with long gaps of inactivity, which means one or many forces have kept him from pursuing the sport full-time.

According to Mina, it was a combination of using his skills to teach others and contractual jiu-jitsu that kept him from consistency.

“I’m also an instructor, and I teach around the world,” Mina told MMAjunkie. “My career started in a good place, but I moved a lot around the world. I had some issues with contracts.

“I have nobody to blame, but that’s life. I wish I could have fought more, but every fight, I did the right thing. I have to be well prepared. That’s why I’m undefeated today, and that’s why I want to keep that.”

After a two-year break, Mina (10-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) got back in the cage this past December and scored a first-round TKO win in the Asia-based Rebel Fighting Championships. He said that fight prepared him for what he expects to be his toughest challenge to date, a welterweight bout with “The Ultimate Fighter 17? veteran Zak Cummings (16-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at The TUF China Finale, which takes place Saturday at The Venetian Macao’s CotaiArena in Macau. (The entire event streams live on UFC Fight Pass.)

“The fight I did in Singapore in December was a good fight to get in the rhythm to compete,” Mina said. “Of course, everything about the UFC is different. You don’t have easy fights. Even if the fight finishes in the first round, I don’t believe it’s easy. I’ve waited my whole life for that, so I have nothing to complain about.”

Mina notes that Cummings has bounced around various weight divisions before settling on welterweight and expects he might grapple with his American opponent’s wrestling during the fight. But he wants to showcase his developing striking game, which has netted him four of his 10 wins.

Cummings, who fell short in TUF 17's elimination round, made his professional UFC debut this past August with a first-round submission win over “TUF: Smashes” veteran Ben Alloway. Of his 16 wins, nine have come via tap-out.

“Against every wrestler, you have to be concerned,” he said. “But I’ve been working my striking skills. I want to show more than just a black belt. I’ve been glad to show my background in judo and jiu-jitsu, but I have new tricks with muay Thai, and I really want to put up a well-rounded fight.”

A martial artist from age 5, Mina got his start in judo and segued to jiu-jitsu when he saw Royce Gracie at UFC 1. Because his instructor held black belts in both arts, he was able to integrate them when he moved toward an MMA career.

“I saw that skinny guy with a gi fighting in the UFC on VHS tapes, and that was a shock for me,” he said. “That inspired me a lot. I’ve been combining jiu-jitsu and judo my whole life, and I think that’s a good background for who I am today.”

Mina made his pro debut in January 2005 and fought five times within the first 19 months of his career. Then, he was inactive for nearly two years.

Now living in Hong Kong and working the schedule of a professional fighter, Mina is ready to show the world why he’s never fallen short inside the cage.

“I think every fighter in the world wants to compete at the highest level in MMA, and then I think everybody wants to fight in the UFC,” he said. “I’ve been out for a while, but today, to be representing Hong Kong and having a fight in my backyard, it will be amazing.”

For more on the TUF China Finale, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.