Colombian fighter Yerson Cujar is beginning a new chapter in his mixed martial arts career. After an extensive amateur journey and a winning start to his professional career, Cujar is currently training in Brazil as he looks to continue his development before returning to the cage on November 6.
Before turning professional, Cujar accumulated more than 17 amateur MMA fights, while also competing in kickboxing and Muay Thai. During approximately seven years of training, he also won national titles and gained experience in international competitions, a journey that he now considers the foundation for this new stage of his career.
“The amateur stage taught me how to compete, how to understand myself, how to experience different situations inside a cage, and also how to learn from defeats,” Cujar told Fajador. “Now, as a professional, I understand that every detail matters and that the challenges will continue to become greater.”
A Professional Debut That Brought a Victory and New Lessons
Cujar began his professional career with a victory at Empire MMA, but the result did not stop him from critically evaluating his performance.
“It was very important to start my professional career with a victory, but honestly, I felt that I could have finished the fight better. Rather than focusing only on the result, I kept thinking about everything I still need to improve,” he said.
One of his main priorities is learning how to apply his grappling experience more effectively in MMA. For the Colombian fighter, this new stage also requires him to compete more intelligently and not depend only on his heart.
“I have the abilities for this sport, but I am also aware that I still have a lot to improve,” he said.
Brazil and Chute Boxe: The Next Step
After competing at the IBJJF South American Championship, Cujar traveled to São Paulo to fulfill one of his goals: training at Chute Boxe, a Brazilian academy with a long history in mixed martial arts and home to several notable fighters.
The experience has strengthened his intention to return to Brazil for future training camps and begin looking for opportunities to compete outside Colombia.
“Training at this level, alongside high-level fighters and within such a large MMA structure, made me realize that I want to return to Brazil several times for my training camps and prepare myself to fight outside Colombia,” Cujar explained.
Training there also carries a special meaning for Cujar because of his admiration for Charles Oliveira, with whom he feels a connection because both fighters have publicly discussed their visual difficulties.
“Chute Boxe opened its doors to me, and that means a lot. I am taking advantage of every training session and every connection because I understand that this sport is also about building relationships and being willing to leave your comfort zone in order to keep progressing,” he said.
November 6 Marks His Next Challenge
Cujar is scheduled to return to competition on November 6. Although he does not yet know who his opponent will be, he says the past few months have been focused on correcting the weaknesses exposed in his previous fights.
“The truth is that I still do not know who my next opponent will be. I only know that I am ready for whoever steps in front of me,” Cujar said.
“The idea is that on November 6, people will be able to see a much more complete version of Yerson Cujar.”
His plan for the coming years is to remain active, build a solid professional record, and begin competing internationally. In the long term, Cujar is clear about the goal he wants to pursue: reaching Dana White’s Contender Series and, from there, earning an opportunity to join the UFC.
“The goal is to build a solid record, start fighting outside the country, and compete as many times as possible in the shortest amount of time, while always keeping in mind that every fight has to help me grow,” he explained.
Ultimately, however, his ambition goes beyond the Contender Series.
“The final goal has been clear from day one: I want to reach the UFC.”
Still at the beginning of his professional journey, Cujar understands that reaching that level will require time and continued development.
“I do not want to skip any steps. I want to build my career fight by fight, learn from every experience, and become the fighter I need to be to get there.”
From the experience accumulated during his amateur career to a training camp in Brazil, Cujar is now entering a stage in which every fight represents another step in his professional development. His next opportunity to demonstrate that progress will come on November 6.
