Nico Cornejo lost 100 pounds to become an MMA fighter: “That’s a lot”

34-year-old American rising star 'The Steel City Kid' Nico Cornejo has had a long and arduous journey leading up to his upcoming ONE Championship debut, and it involves losing a massive amount of weight.

If you had looked at Cornejo a few years ago, he would not have fit the bill as an MMA fighter. He was overweight and out of shape and didn't have much fight in him. But when he became a father and decided to get his life together, that's when things changed for the better.

Speaking to ONE Championship in a recent interview, Cornejo said he had lost over 100 pounds to get to this point in his life. And now he's ready to make the most of it in the world's largest martial arts organization.

'The Steel City Kid' talked about his journey thus far. He said:

"I had a lot of reserve left in me, and in 2019 is when I decided to make that journey into the MMA world. I’ve been rocking and rolling ever since. I’ve lost close to almost 100 pounds. My heaviest I got was 245 pounds. That much weight on a small stature like me, you know, that’s a lot. I was able to focus on my diet along with my boys."

Now a lightweight MMA fighter in ONE Championship, he wants to make his mark on the global stage. But he will have to go up against a tough young teen to make it happen.

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Nico Cornejo to face 'The Phenom' Adrian Lee in ONE debut at ONE 168: Denver

Nico 'The Steel City Kid' Cornejo is set to lock horns with fellow American 'The Phenom' Adrian Lee in a lightweight MMA contest at ONE 168: Denver, which broadcasts live from the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado, on Friday, September 6.

Fans in the United States and Canada can catch all the action live and absolutely free on Amazon Prime Video. But for those who want to catch the event at the stadium, tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA for all the latest news and updates surrounding ONE 168: Denver as it happens.