On the main coard of the explosive Tezos WNO 19: Nicholas Meregali vs Kaynan Duarte coming to Austin, TX on August 10, Brazilian icon Felipe "Preguiça" Pena is fired up for a breathtaking match against one of jiu-jitsu's fastest-rising stars in Haisam Rida.  

At 31 years of age, Pena boasts an impressive grappling resume, including titles at the IBJJF Worlds, the IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, and an absolute title at ADCC in 2017. With such accolades, Pena could be considered the favorite in the upcoming match. However, despite Haisam's relatively brief career as a black belt, his aggressiveness poses a threat to the Brazilian. Pena said he recognizes this, and sees it as an opportunity to generate an exciting fight for the fans. 

With this in mind, Pena reflected on his ability to read his opponents, a skill he has honed throughout his years fighting among the jiu-jitsu elite.

"What I enjoy is fighting athletes who truly engage in jiu-jitsu," Pena said in an interview with FloGrappling. 

"Those who attempt takedowns, passes, sweeps, and submissions are the best opponents, and that's when I perform at my best. Haisam has a very offensive style; we saw that in the ADCC when he submitted Cyborg. My experience may give me an edge, but, on the other hand, the determination of a younger athlete hungry to prove himself might be his advantage. I'm in one of the best stages of my life as an athlete, more conscious and precise in my moves, and I've evolved significantly without the gi. It's going to be a great fight."

Despite feeling confident about the duel, Pena seeks to further improve himself before the big day. During his latest training camp, the Gracie Barra black belt visited Atos San Diego and honed his skills alongside other heavy hitters such as André Galvão and Kaynan Duarte, who will be headlining the Tezos WNO 19 main event against Nicholas Meregali. Pena said he's passionate about challenging himself in training and is intent on keeping his game razor-sharp at all times.

WATCH: Felipe Pena Train At Atos HQ

"I've always enjoyed testing myself in training and practicing with different people. Having that 'real match session' during my preparations feels good. I know some don't like or don't feel comfortable training with different people, and I don't judge. To each their own. But, I've always learned a lot by challenging myself in that way. When I'm training, there's no ego, only a focus on learning and evolving. Training with the guys at Atos was fantastic; they're professionals, and I learned a lot from each one of them. I was very well received there."

Coming off a victory over Nick Rodriguez at WNO 17 in February, Pena is staying at the forefront of the competitive scene, aiming to participate in more tournaments that offer increased exposure and appreciation for the athletes. However, that doesn't mean he'll be leaving traditional jiu-jitsu behind, as the Brazilian black belt is still considering a return to the format to add more achievements to his name and more medals to the walls of his gym.

Watch: WNO: Felipe Pena vs Nick Rodriguez 

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"I want to stay as active as possible. Of course, I have no desire to compete in a championship where the title or financial return would not make any difference to me, but I'll seize any worthwhile opportunity to compete. I want to fight; it's what I love. I enjoy training, preparing, and then competing. I'll continue to do it for as long as I can. I plan to participate in many superfights, I'll definitely take part in next year's ADCC, and I hope to compete in the IBJJF Worlds again. Let's see how it all goes down."

 In addition to the bout between Felipe Preguiça and Haisam Rida, Tezos WNO 19: Meregali vs. Duarte presented by Fat Tire will feature a star studded lineup including the main event featuring rivals Nicholas Meregali and Kaynan Duarte, as well as the co-main event showcasing champion Ffion Davies and the versatile Jasmine Rocha for the Tezos WNO flyweight title. The event will take place at the Palmer Event Center in Austin, TX.

Watch all the action live, exclusively on FloGrappling.