Mississauga, Ont. lightweight Adam De Freitas has big dreams of competing on MMA's biggest platforms, and he's preparing to make a serious move toward that goal.
At 33, battling inside what might be the division's fiercest tier, De Freitas (1-1) is upfront about the road ahead—bracing for every challenge that comes his way. His next test arrives sooner than expected: this Friday, he steps into the cage against New Jersey's Ryan Rizco (2-1) at the upcoming CFFC 93 card in Philadelphia, Pa.
De Freitas fully acknowledges the threat Rizco brings, yet he sees greater value in stacking up against elite competition as his career progresses.
"I didn't hesitate at all to accept this matchup. I don't spend too much time dissecting opponents, but everything I've seen tells me he's a very skilled competitor—Renzo Gracie brown belt, extremely athletic, carries his weight high," De Freitas told MMA Empire. "I wanted this fight because it's a legitimate test."
"I'm operating in reality now. I don't have the luxury of fighting lesser fighters anymore. To fast-track my career, I need to face high-caliber opponents and finish them in impressive fashion."
Since making his professional debut in 2017, nearly every one of his scheduled bouts has been called off, with the vast majority of his planned opponents pulling out on short notice.
This Friday gives him a chance to turn those missed chances around with a decisive performance—one that could finally land him on the radar of Bellator or another premier promotion.
"In fight years, 33 is significant, particularly carrying a 1-1 record after so many cancellations. I never got the opportunity to build up my resume, and that wasn't from a lack of effort—it literally took two years just getting people to show up for fights," De Freitas explained.
A new dad and full-time tactical officer with a Canadian police department, De Freitas is accustomed to juggling several responsibilities simultaneously.
However, following his first professional defeat in 2020, he recognized the need for a training camp that left minimal room for outside distractions.
"I already have a solid career going. Obviously, I'm not abandoning that. But now I can carve out time for fight camps, though I certainly can't manage four or five per year—I'm fortunate to compete two or three times annually. So every outing needs to be against an elite-level opponent," he noted.
"That said, I'm here to build something real, to really stake my claim. I'd love to step onto one of those larger stages."
De Freitas can't pinpoint whether his martial arts passion came before his law enforcement ambitions or developed alongside them, but he sees the connection running deeper than physical toughness—both careers demand composure under pressure.
"Everything ties back to how I view violence," De Freitas reflected. "I'm not trying to flex or show off. I genuinely enjoy understanding violence and learning how to control it."
Recently shifting his training from Parabellum MMA to Niagara Top Team, De Freitas praised his current camp as among the finest he's experienced, even accounting for pandemic-era challenges.
"We've been much more selective about who we train with, working in tighter, isolated groups. Still training with top-tier partners—it just requires more advance planning. I can't simply drop everything and head to gym," he shared.
Following his last loss, De Freitas realized his dedication to fighting hadn't matched the caliber of competition he was seeking, and he's entered this camp with a thorough, nothing-left-behind mentality.
"I brought on someone specifically to hold pads for me nearly every single day," he said.
"The cut to lightweight isn't easy, but I'm not stripping twenty pounds of water the night before. This camp I decided 'I need to elevate my fight camps to the pro level,' so I hired someone to oversee my weight, my nutrition, and execute my weight cut."
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