Composure critical for Alex Garcia going into UFC Fight Night 33 debut

As Alex Garcia prepares to make his octagon debut against Andreas Stahl at next weekend’s UFC Fight Night 33 event, he was imparted some wisdom from welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.

“I learned how to be calm and perform well,” Garcia told MMAjunkie Radio of the advice he received from his Tristar teammate. “The best piece of advice is don’t get too big in my head, it’s basically just another fight.”

While the matchup with Stahl (9-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is indeed just another fight in Garcia’s (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) career in some aspects, in others it’s unlike anything he has experienced before.

Fighting out of Canada’s top MMA gym in Montreal under the tutelage of Firas Zahabi, Garcia has the potential to be a player in the 170-pound weight class. Training alongside the likes of St-Pierre, Rory MacDonald, Francis Carmont and more on a daily basis, Garcia has learned a lot about the pressure that comes along with a UFC fight.

While the first-hand experience will of course be different, Garcia feels the amount of time he has spent around other UFC fighters has prepared him accordingly.

“I have training partners that fight for the UFC,” Garcia said. “I was able to handle myself with the guys here in the UFC, so I started to gain some confidence I could be in the UFC.”

It has taken four years of fighting on the regional scene for Garcia to break through to the UFC. Getting a few appearances in the world’s premier MMA organization is one thing, but to become a mainstay on the roster is an entirely different animal. Being signed to the UFC was just the first tick off Garcia’s list; the second is to rise to the top and work toward a championship.

“I haven’t reached my goal yet that I want to reach,” Garcia said. “I haven’t accomplished anything yet.”

With his tremendous physique and high-impact style of fighting, Garcia appears to have all the attributes necessary to become the next fan-favorite in the welterweight division. Having earned nine knockout or submission finishes in 10 career victories, Garcia is capable of delivering memorable points of violence inside the cage.

While he will be eager to continue that trend in his UFC debut, Garcia must also remember the advice of his Tristar teammates and remain composed no matter what the situation.

“I like to go for the kill right away,” Garcia said. “But in high-level competition, you have to be more smart about the situation.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 33, visit the UFC Rumors section of the site.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia, MMAjunkie lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.