Joe Giannetti once stood on the cusp of a full UFC contract, just one victory away at The Ultimate Fighter 27 Finale in July 2018. However, defeat led to losing his UFC opportunity and, by his own admission, his hope.
Now 29, Giannetti is adopting a focused, fight-by-fight mentality, preparing for LFA 204 this Saturday at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The event will be streamed live on UFC Fight Pass.
Throughout his career, Giannetti consistently believed the next win would be his ticket back to the UFC. Yet, each disappointment fueled a downward spiral. Currently a former multiple-time Cage Titans champion, Giannetti is now confronting his past as he aims for a brighter future.
“I had a five-fight win streak, multiple Cage Titans championships, and still no UFC call, not even for a short-notice fight,” Giannetti told MMA Fighting. “It makes you question yourself, wondering what else you need to do.”
“Maybe it is over, and I’ve come to terms with the idea that maybe I am the biggest screw-up in MMA history. Headlining UFC International Fight Week as a co-main event for Israel Adesanya, winning the first round, and then my body completely failing me, resulting in a terrible performance. I told everyone I’d be cut, they thought I was crazy, and then I was cut weeks later. Followed by wins, losses, draws, and weight issues. I really messed up.”
“Perhaps being the biggest screw-up in the sport can become a great comeback story if I can turn it around.”
Giannetti experienced a mixed 2024, starting with a swift ninja choke victory at Cage Titans 65 in May, followed by a split decision loss in a Fight of the Year contender against UFC veteran Peter Barrett less than two months later. He then achieved a highlight-reel knockout in his Karate Combat debut in October, shortly before his wedding.
After winning seven of his last nine fights, Giannetti remains determined to return to the UFC and compete in the octagon beyond Boston. He understands that achieving this goal requires consistent effort and the belief that if he follows the right path, the opportunity will arise if it’s meant to be.
“It’s funny, I remember telling my roommate before The Ultimate Fighter, ‘I’m going to get on The Ultimate Fighter, dominate everyone, win the finale, chase the title, and retire by 30,’” Giannetti recalled. “That was always the plan – by 29 or 30, have a title, a few defenses, and be done.”
“Obviously, things haven`t gone according to that plan. When it became clear that vision wasn`t materializing, I think I lost hope. I thought, ‘Oh, the vision failed. I’m doomed.’ But I’ve worked hard, committed to training, made countless sacrifices in every area – physical, financial, everything. I think it was more about losing hope and accepting the grind, realizing it’s going to be as tough as you imagine, and even tougher.”
“I recently saw a video asking, ‘Would you run if you didn’t know the distance?’ If someone told you to reach your goal, would you just run until they said stop? It sounds simple, but yeah, I’ll run towards my goal, even if I don’t know if it’s a mile or 20 miles. I think I was expecting it to be a 10-mile run, but maybe it’s a 30-mile run. That’s where I am now. I have that hope back and I’m willing to go as far as it takes to make it happen.”
