The month of Fightful's launch in July 2016, Luis Smolka looked poised to compete for the UFC Flyweight Championship. Less than a year and a half later, he could be fighting for his job at UFC 219
Three straight losses to fighters now in the top 15 -- including a stunner to Brandon Moreno -- have put Smolka on the outside looking in. As he prepares to face Matheus Nicolau, Smolka looks back and says that his battle with alcoholism has stunted his career.
"It kind of proved to me I needed to stop drinking. I've been an alcoholic for the last while. I can't keep drinking and training. My coaches have been on me for a while, and I've been stubborn about it. I'm cutting it down. Before I was blacking out every night. I was a pretty heavy drinker. I'm trying to clean it up right now," Smolka tolf James Lynch of Fightful.com "I have much better energy and cardio not trying to spar battling my throw up."
Despite his trio of defeats in the rearview, Smolka is still ranked #13 in the division.
In the full interview, Louis Smolka (11-4) discusses his upcoming fight against Matheus Nicolau (12-1-1) at UFC 219 on Dec. 30. Louis also talks about his problem with drinking and how he's cut back significantly ahead of his matchup. He also talks about his training camp and what TV show's he's currently watching.
