This is shaping up to be a massive matchup.
Dustin Joynson (4-0) is gunning for a second championship belt when he steps into the cage with fellow heavyweight Caio Machado (1-0-1) in a battle for the heavyweight title at BFL 58 on Saturday in Coquitlam, British Columbia.
The 33-year-old Joynson most recently captured the Havoc FC heavyweight championship last November, and he believes adding another belt to his resume could open doors with other promotions.
"I'm not sure how much it genuinely helps, but at the same time you can't argue that it looks impressive on my record, particularly for the UFC to notice that I've already won two Canadian championships," Joynson told reporters.
"It would certainly help me advance faster than some of the competition."
Joynson brings five professional fights to this bout, including one amateur outing, while Machado has significantly less experience with only two MMA contests under his belt.
However, Joynson isn't convinced his extra cage time will necessarily give him the upper hand.
"I felt very comfortable and performed really well in my second or third fight, and I never felt that my lack of experience was holding me back at all," Joynson explained.
"He might only have two MMA fights, but who knows what else he's done."
Given that Machado has only competed twice, Joynson said he hasn't had the chance to study any fight footage on his upcoming opponent.
Under those circumstances, Joynson expects the opening minutes of their bout to involve a lot of mutual assessment.
"I'll head in there, read him, figure out what he's strong in, and try to play to my strengths against those."
Machado Ready for the Challenge
A native of Brazil, Machado, 24, comes from a striking-heavy background and hasn't focused heavily on wrestling.
For this camp, Machado noted he's dedicated substantial effort toward sharpening his wrestling game, believing it could prove decisive come fight night.
"Coming from Brazil, wrestling isn't something we drill a ton of back home," Machado told reporters during a sit-down.
"My BJJ, my striking and my Muay Thai are solid, so I've shifted my focus heavily toward wrestling—not just for this matchup, but for the long haul."
Considering where he sits on the career ladder, Machado, who calls Vancouver, B.C. home, described earning a title bout at this point as a significant milestone.
He emphasized that capturing the championship and handing Joynson a loss would propel him forward considerably, opening doors to even larger prospects ahead.
"From everything I've watched, Joynson represents the sternest challenge I've faced so far, and I'm genuinely excited to step into the cage with him," Machado remarked.
"If my goal is to climb to the next tier, Joynson is the top competitor out there right now, and the one I need to push past to make that leap."
Given Machado's standup pedigree alongside Joynson's knack for finishes and quickness, Machado felt the odds of the bout reaching the final five rounds were slim.
He predicted a lively contest that would most likely conclude via stoppage.
"Both of us carry serious heavyweight power, so neither of us wants to drag it to the distance. We're drilling for that possibility, but we're both gunning for the KO first," Machado explained.
"Based on how heavyweight bouts typically play out, I'd expect one of us to be heading home before the last bell."
Joynson's Shoutouts
"I'd like to thank my sponsors Universal Supplements, JRP Cement Finishing, Gold Standard Hauling and Services, Suits U Athletics, TCF Contracting, The Fox, and Preme. You can find me on Instagram at @d_joynson, Facebook at Dustin Joynson MMA.
Machado's Shoutouts
"I want to extend my gratitude mainly to all my coaches and the teammates who've been grinding with me and supporting me throughout this camp, and also to my girlfriend who's stood by me through the entire process.
