After fighting others' battles, Bellator 119's Marlon Sandro now fighting his own

Marlon Sandro isn’t just a professional MMA fighter, but he also is a gifted coach and training partner.

So gifted, in fact, that he admits he’s slacked on his own training to help others in preparation for their fights, which he believes has led to a slide in his career.

Sandro (24-5-1 MMA, 7-3 BMMA), who meets Chris Horodecki (20-4-1 MMA, 1-1-1 BMMA) on Friday at Bellator 119, told MMAjunkie he’s focusing more on himself. But even more than that, his longtime gym, Nova Uniao, now has the staff so he can stay that way.

“I’ve always tried to help (Nova Uniao head coach Andre) Pederneiras in the best way possible,” Sandro said. “I try to take some of the weight off his back since we have so many fighters. He has too many responsibilities as a manager, head coach, and with his own family. People see me as [his] ‘general,’ and there are times that it gets in the way.

“But I’ve been able to address it positively. I’m still helping everyone, but no longer to my detriment. Our team is now fully staffed with trainers, therapists and a nutritionist. So now I can fully focus on my training.”

Sandro and Horodecki close out the Spike.com-streamed prelims of Friday’s event at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada. Main card fights air live on Spike TV.

It’s the Brazilian’s 11th fight with Bellator, and while he’s won seven of 10 appearances, he’s failed to win a tournament that would bring him a title shot. In his most recent outing, he suffered a third-round TKO loss to Magomedrasu “Frodo” Khasbulaev, scratching him from his third tourney.

His fight with Horodecki is likely to open the door to a fourth slot in the promotion’s eight-man tourneys, but the competition is going to remain stiff at the top.

“When I lost to ‘Frodo,’ I was was too restrained in my striking,” Sandro said. “I was trying to conserve my energy too much. I could have let loose more. I could have fought harder.”

In his most recent outing, Sandro competed for longstanding Japanese promotion Pancrase and fought to a draw against Yojiro Uchimura, a decision he didn’t agree with, “but that’s what happens in Japan.

“So now I’m looking to increase my intensity to recapture some of my old success,” Sandro said.

Horodecki, too, is on the comeback road after a failed stint in the now-defunct WEC and then a scratch from Bellator after an uneven run in the Viacom-owned promotion. On the regional circuit, he’s won two of his past three and would benefit greatly with a win over the Brazilian.

“Horodecki is always well prepared to fight,” Sandro said. “The fact that he’s younger than me makes no difference. I have all the weapons needed to defeat him. I just have to use them. I respect him, but I’m going there to win.”

With a new training regimen, Sandro said he’s mentally and physically stronger, and his work will show it.

“I am trying to address the errors I’ve made in my defeats,” he said. “I’m more focused now. Some personal problems had been interfering with my fights. Now, thankfully everything is better.”

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