My Dad: The Real MVP Behind Emilio Urrutia’s MMA Rise
Every time Emilio Urrutia steps into the ONE Championship octagon, he carries a silent champion in his heart—his dad. In a candid pre‑fight chat, the young fighter spilled the story of how his father escaped Cuba, rebuilt a life in America, and laid the groundwork for Emilio’s future.
From Cuban Exile to the U.S. Dream
“My number one inspiration, my hero—always my dad,” Emilio says. “He jumped ship during that crazy operation bit called Operation Peter Pan. Those kids yanked out of Cuba by lottery tickets. My father got one, hopped onto that little flight, and landed in Tennessee by a church charity.
When Emilio turned 17, they finally met again. Big family reunion vibes. The kid in Tennessee grew up there, then followed his dad to New Jersey, then to Miami.
Dad’s Hustle: No Rock‑and‐Roll, Just Hard Work
- Once in America, he threw his life into a grind—doing whatever jobs he could, from construction to retail.
- He put the “family” in “family first,” giving Emilio and his siblings whatever it took to get on.
- “He never had the chance to chase his own dreams,” Emilio says with a grin, “but he gave me the chance to chase mine.”
Kid vs. Dad: The Misunderstood Game
When Emilio first started dabbling in martial arts, his dad didn’t see the promise right away. Picture this: Emilio came back from training with a bruised face and sore ears, looking like a circus performer. On the first time the dad witnessed Emilio in an amateur bout and he actually lost—boomm!—he was proud. The dad clamped the boy in a tight hug and shouted, “You might not know what you’re doing, but that fire? It’s unmistakable.”
That moment turned the dad into Emilio’s number one believer. The bold “yes, go all‑in” cue turned the behind‑the‑scenes support into the secret sauce that lifted Emilio to a fight‑ready status.
On the Road to a Title Fight
- Now he’s set to face former champ Marat Gafurov on April 20.
- “If I win, I’m fighting for that belt with 100% certainty,” Emilio claims.
- He’s sure he’ll be the best in the ONE featherweight division, calls himself “The Honey Badger.”
“I’ve worked my whole life to get to this point, and I’m about to live out every single minute of it,” he says. A sincere nod to family, a flirtatious jab at his nickname, and a hopeful shout to Manila set the tone—“Manila, let’s keep it real because The Honey Badger is coming.”
Bottom line: Emilio’s journey is all about that father’s impossible leap from Cuba to the U.S., the relentless hustle, and the love that turns every bout into a toast to family and faith.
