If you were a long-time follower of World Extreme Cagefighting, the now defunct sister promotion to the Ultimate Fighting Championship Antonio Banuelos essentially grew up in front of your eyes. Dating back to 2002 was one of the better 135-pound fighters in the virgining weight class.
Since being released from Zuffa employ following a defeat to former WEC bantamweight kingpin Miguel Torres he took the long journey to the land of the rising sun to compete in DREAMs eight-man bantamweight tournament. Nabbing wins over Hideo Tokoro and Masakazu Imanari before losing in the finals to dual-division titlist Bibano Fernandes.
Clearly wanting to return to the big-show Banuelos returns to North America and sheds an additional ten pounds to join the flyweight division. On September 14 he will face Joshua Sampo, stepping in as an injury replacement for Rafael de Freitas.