LFA 11/AXS TV Fights video: Matthew Frincu has no worries about short-notice opponent switch

There are late opponent changes, and then there are really late opponent changes. Matthew Frincu is dealing with the latter this week.

Frincu was set to headline LFA 11 tonight against Daniel Madrid (13-4) in what would’ve been a hometown fight for Madrid. But two days ago, it was announced an injury had forced Madrid out, and Maycon Mendonca (6-1) moved up the card to take his place in the welterweight fight.

“It’s always a shame when opponents drop out, but it is what it is and if you want to be at the top of this game, you’ve got to be ready for anything,” Frincu (10-2) told AXS TV Fights’ Ron Kruck ahead of the LFA 11 main event against Mendonca.

LFA 11 takes place tonight at Comerica Theatre in Phoenix. The main card airs live on AXS TV.

The challenge for Frincu is a total reversal of styles from Madrid to Mendonca, he said.

“I’m doing a complete 180-(degree change) here,” he said. “I was fighting a grappler, a guy that wanted to get me to the cage, a guy that wanted to get me down and take my back, do all those kinds of things – and now I’m fighting an aggressive kickboxer. I’m not worried. I’m really not. We’re ready. We’re always prepared.

“He’s an aggressive guy. He’s going to beat himself. All I’ve got to do is pull the trigger. I’m not worried – let him in.”

Frincu, who is from Australia but based in Arizona, made his promotional debut in February at LFA 5 and put on a striking display. In that fight, he won his third straight following a loss at WSOF 30 to Abubakar Nurmagomedov – but didn’t get the finish.

Still, the wide range of striking he displayed made him happy with the performance, and he’ll be looking to build on that tonight.

“We’re always looking to do better. It’s no lie,” Frincu said. “But to be able to display my muay Thai, mix it up – head kicks, body kicks, body work with the hands, throwing the jab, left hand, especially stepping across with the elbow … it’s what I’m all about. I want to do it every time.”

Check out the video above for more from Frincu with Kruck ahead of LFA 11. Below, don’t miss Kruck’s interview with LFA 11 co-headliner James Nakashima.

And for more on LFA 11, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of the site.

LFA 11 is live on AXS TV tonight at 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT). Make sure to tweet along using #LFA11. AXS TV airs new, live fights almost every Friday night in 2017. Find AXS TV on your TV right here: www.axs.tv/fights.

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