Video: 'JZ' Cavalcante hopes balanced life pays off vs. Griffin at WSOF 4

Sometimes it just takes a little tinkering outside the cage to make a big difference inside of it.

That’s what Gesias Cavalcante is hoping pays dividends starting this week. “JZ” was seeking balance in his life, and now that he says he’s found it, it’s Tyson Griffin who will be the first to experience whether it’s made a difference or not.

Cavalcante (17-7-1) meets Griffin (16-6) on Saturday at World Series of Fighting 4, which takes place at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. The main card, including Cavalcante vs. Griffin, airs on NBC Sports Network following prelims that stream online at MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

“It’s about getting everything together and performing in the fight,” Cavalcante told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I’m always in the gym, always training, always looking to improve. I have a life besides fighting. That’s one thing I had to learn a little more, because for me, (in the past), everything was just fight, fight, fight.”

When the 30-year-old says “everything” was about fighting, he means it – and it’s been that way for a long time.

“I’ve been fighting since I was 4 years old,” he said. “I was fighting before I ever even knew how to make a decision in my life. It’s always been part of my life. If my life wasn’t going good, my fighting wasn’t going good. So now I’m trying to balance everything in my life and fighting, and I’m more mature now. WIth the maturity, I’m bringing my hunger back to come and perform and have fun – not putting so much pressure on myself.”

Cavalcante started his career 14-1-1, including winning the 2007 Hero’s middleweight tournament. But then things got rough.

At the first DREAM card, he had a no-contest with Shinya Aoki when he dropped to light. In the rematch six weeks later, he dropped a unanimous decision. Then, after more than a year off, he was outpointed by Tatsuya Kawajiri at DREAM.9.

He was able to pick up a split-decision win in DREAM before signing with Strikeforce. But his run there was disappointing, as well. He went just 1-2 for the promotion with another no-contest.

“JZ” was hoping things had turned around when he signed with World Series of Fighting. He submitted T.J. O’Brien in just 63 seconds at the promotion’s debut event this past November. But things turned back around the other way when he was stopped by Justin Gaethje in March.

Still, Cavalcante believes he’s ready to start heading back up – and he believes Griffin is the right opponent to do just that.

“It’s a big name, and the guy has been a the top of the weight class,” he said. “It’s a good fight, and it motivates me a lot. Especially being on NBC Sports Network – there’s no better way to start the card. It’s for sure going to be a good fight, and I’m excited for it.

“These are the kind of fights I like – big names, big stages. I’m hungry and I have a big appetite, so it’s good. I’m excited. When they gave me the name, I was like, ‘Good – that’s a good fight to get my name in the mix again and get some recognition.’”

At just 3-6 with a pair of no-contests since his 14-1-1 start, it probably will take more than just a win over Griffin to get his name back in the mix. But it’s certainly a step in the right direction.

More importantly for the Blackzilians-trained Cavalcante, he’s still enjoying the sport, even when things aren’t going his way.

“It’s still a lot of fun for me. It’s always been fun for me,” he said. “All my teammates will say that even when I don’t have a fight, I’m there training. I’m just getting a balance in life in general with all the things I have around. I’m not putting everything just on the fights.”

For more on WSOF 4, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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