Ahead of Legacy FC debut, Frank Trevino still intent on heading Mexico’s MMA efforts

Ahead of his Legacy Fighting Championship debut, undefeated welterweight Frank Trevino isn’t going to make any brash claims, but he’s also not going to back down from any of his stated goals, including becoming the face of Mexican MMA.

“It’s funny that these guys want to say, ‘Who does this guy think he is?’” Trevino told MMAjunkie. “I’m like, first of all, I’m a Mexican. I’m a real Mexican. I was born and raised in Mexico. I’m not Chicano-raised. I’m not a person that was raised in the U.S. the way Cain Velasquez was or the way a lot of other Mexicans were. I was born and raised in Mexico, so that’s why I take that to heart.”

Earlier this year, Trevino told MMAjunkie he hoped to become a chief representative of his native country in the sport of MMA. While that might seem difficult when the UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, hails from the same country, Trevino was quick to point the champ’s roots come from Mexico, but it isn’t his birthplace.

That stance earned Trevino a hail of criticism, but he insists his statement was not meant as an attack.

“I was kind of amused by the criticism,” Trevino said. “I never said I didn’t like Cain. I love Cain. Cain is a great fighter. Cain is one of the best fighters out there in the world.

“Like I said, I don’t speak out of turn. I don’t speak what’s not true. I speak what I see.”

At the time of his initial statement, Trevino was fighting for South Texas Fighting Championships, a small promotion based on the U.S.-Mexico border. This Friday, he makes his debut for Legacy Fighting Championship, a promotion with a national TV deal that will give him an opportunity to gain a little more exposure.

Trevino (10-0) meets Lester Batres (3-1) on the AXS TV-broadcast main card of Legacy FC 25, which takes place Houston’s Arena Theatre. Longtime veteran Jorge “Macaco” Patino, a training partner of Trevino’s, faces Carlos Diego Ferreira in the evening’s main event.

“I’m really excited about this,” Trevino said. “It’s something I’ve been waiting to do for a long time. Looking up to people like ‘Macaco’ and training with people like ‘Macaco,’ being a Legacy champion, himself, it’s a big honor to be fighting on the same card as a legend. I really feel like it’s an honor for me to even be on this card.”

Trevino said he’s exciting to be fighting for Legacy FC, widely regarded as one of the top regional promotions in the U.S. and a recent funnel of talent for the UFC. But he’s not entering the contest with any expectations for his time in the company other than a progressive run up the ranks.

“I’m not looking for the title right now, Trevino said. “It’s cool to want to say that, but I want to do is start from the bottom up. Whatever Legacy throws at me.

“I’m taking this as I’m going into Legacy at 0-0. I don’t have a fight yet. That’s the way I’m taking it, like I haven’t fought yet for anybody. That’s my approach. I’m coming in as the newbie, and we’ll see how this newbie does.”

But Trevino does have his eyes set on a potential UFC bid. With eight finishes in 10 wins, not to mention the experience of a 25-minute victory, it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility at some point in the relatively near future. And while he won’t press the issue, Trevino admits he thinks he could soon be deserving of a shot.

“I want the UFC; I want the UFC bad,” Trevino said. “I’ve been trying to get on to that roster for a long time. It’s befuddling to me that there’s people out there with 2-3 records and 0-4 records that are in the UFC. It doesn’t make sense to me, but it’s all about connections, and it’s all about who you know, obviously.

“People will eventually see me, and I will raise some eyebrows. Eventually, hopefully, I’ll get a spot.”

And when that spot comes, Trevino hopes to make good on his ultimate goal.

“Hell yeah I want to represent Mexico,” Trevino said. “I’m a Mexican at heart. I might walk out with the traditional music and whatnot. You’re not going to see me with a sombrero. You’re not going to see me with a lucha libre mask. You’re going to see me out there as a Mexican fighter doing what a Mexican fighter does. I’m never going to give up, and I’m going to keep going forward.”

For more on Legacy FC 25, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Frank Trevino and Wanderlei Silva)