It was an emotional night for “Psicosis.”
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight newcomer, Victor Valenzuela, earned a gritty unanimous decision win over veteran Max Griffin on UFC Vegas 116’s “Prelims” undercard this past weekend (Sat., April 25, 2026) inside Meta Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
However, the journey that got him there is even more powerful. According to Valenzuela, his late grandmother saw it coming.
The 32-year-old Chilean competed on Season 9 of Contender Series last fall but
was knocked out by Michael Oliveira, missing out on a UFC contract. Determined to bounce back, he traveled to Japan and stopped former UFC fighter Yusaku Kinoshita in the second round. Instead of celebrating, Valenzuela stayed ready — because of something his grandmother told him.
“When I had my last fight in Japan, I spoke to my grandma, and she told me she had a dream that good news was coming,” Valenzuela said during his UFC Vegas 116 post-fight media scrum through a translator. “She didn’t know what it was, but it was good news. She told me, ‘Please take care of yourself and stay active, and you never know what can happen.’ Basically, she meant don’t get too big or heavy.”
That advice paid off almost immediately.
“I followed it, and a week later I got a call from my manager, Jason House, who said, ‘Hey, are you willing to take a fight on short notice in two weeks?’ I put two and two together, and that’s exactly what my grandma was talking about,” Valenzuela said. “I took the fight and took the opportunity, and that’s why I’m here now.”
Tragically, Valenzuela’s grandmother passed away last Tuesday during fight week as he traveled to Las Vegas. She played a major role in raising him while his parents worked long hours, and he later lived with her after they separated. Even after relocating to Miami, Valenzuela stayed in constant contact with her.
Following his win, he honored her memory by reading a handwritten note dedicated to her.
Watch below:
Now riding a two-fight win streak since his Contender Series loss — and with six wins in his last seven overall — Valenzuela’s Octagon journey is just getting started.
