PFL Newcomer Joilton ‘Peregrino’ Hopes for Early Pairing with Anthony Pettis, Natan Schulte

Signed by Professional Fighters League for to compete at lightweight for its 2021 season, Joilton Lutterbach is hoping for an early matchup with one of the two 155-pound favorites: high-profile acquisition Anthony Pettis or two-time defending champion Natan Schulte.

The PFL season kicks off on April 21.

“I’ve already asked the promoters to put me with either one on April 21. The PFL promised to release the card on Jan. 23,” he told told Sherdog.com. “In this tournament format you just have three months to train for the first fight and final. I’m in my better shape now so the perfect scenario would be to face Pettis or Shulte in first and final, but I´m ready for anything they bring me as always.”

“The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3” runner-up points out that he has fought in four different divisions during his 43-bout career.

“I was always ready depending what the promoters had to offer me — no matter if it’s at 170, 185 or 205 pounds. For the first time I have everything in my favor,” said Lutterbach, who is a Luta Livre black belt under Shooto legend Alexandre Franca Nogueira. “”For the first time in my career, I had three months to train with the best structure of my life and with great partners. I’m the biggest, strongest and most experienced fighter in that tournament. Be sure I´m going to get that million.”

The 28-year-old “Peregrino” is so confident he will win the $1 million dollar prize that he is investing all of his monthly PFL salary to rent a space in one of the most fancy malls in Rio de Janeiro: Vogue Square, which is located in Barra da Tijuca, Brazil. 

“My idea was initially rent an area to make my camp but when I posted the pictures on my social media, many friends showed up and we started to have a really high-level training camp full of professionals,” he said.

Peregrino’s stable of training partners include the likes of Rousimar Palhares, Gleison Tibau, Erick Silva, Claudio Silva, Rafael Silva , Joaquim Silva and Renan Ferreira.

“My idea is to transform this space into a kind of ATT of Rio de Janeiro with doors opened to all MMA professionals that need a space to train and high-level partners. Besides a dojo and Octagon we also have pilates, crossfit and physiotherapy,” said ‘Peregrino,’ who also has plans to produce a small MMA event every month in the academy area.

Even being born in Paraiba (northeast of Brazil) and living in Rio de Janeiro, “Peregrino” will represent Germany during the PFL season.

“I lived three years in Germany. My wife is of German descent and I started to use her surname Lutterbach, as you can see on my Sherdog profile, which opened many doors in European market,” he said. “Thanks to that I got titles in promotions such as CFS, KSW, FEN and FNW. Since Brazil is very well represented in all events, I decided to represent the country that gave me all opportunities that changed my life as a way of acknowledgement.”

  Lutterbach is confident that Germany will soon be home to an MMA champion.

“In the beginning it was only Brazil and the USA, but now MMA is globalized and the biggest examples are in the flags of champions of the biggest events,” he said. “Besides Brazil and the USA, you have China, Russia, Australia and Nigeria. Take note: In 2021 I´ll add the German flag to that board.”