“It was a nice year of not having to cut weight, but I’m right on track; this was always my plan.”
But competing in mixed martial arts wasn’t when he first ventured into the gym.
Pauga was working as a patrol officer for the City of Wheat Ridge and wanted to improve his ability to defend himself should situations arise that required him to get physical. That quickly led to him serving as a training partner for heavyweight standouts Curtis Blaydes and Alistair Overeem, amongst others, and prompted him to step into the professional ranks himself soon after.
“I don’t have the career that I have, maybe I don’t even get to the UFC without Elevation Fight Team, without having guys that are at the top of the game, coaches that have been through it that can guide me, put me where I need to be,” said Pauga, heaping praise on the Denver-based team that has shaped him as a fighter. “I’m probably not here right now if I’m at some small gym where I’m the biggest, most athletic guy and I’m beating up everybody.
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„My entire career is thanks to Elevation Fight Team and Curtis, and Alistair, and all these guys that have come through.”
The combination of his natural athleticism, previous professional ventures, and working with those big bodies and the cast of standout coaches certainly expedited Pauga’s rise through the ranks, but he also had unimpeded success before standing in with Usman last summer, as well.
A six-fight amateur career that started at the beginning of 2019 produced six victories, five finishes, and a transition to the professional ranks less than 18 months later. Three wins under the LFA banner were followed by unanimous decision wins over Terrance Jean-Jacques and Perez on consecutive Cage Warriors events in San Diego a couple months apart in 2021, which landed him a bed in the TUF house and a spot on Team Pena.
