Andrew Priolo | Former 559 Fights Champ excited to get back, "It's kill or be killed"

“Last time I fought was 7 years ago man… I fought for the State title, I got knocked out badly. I don't care. Shit happens… I now would beat my ass seven years ago. It would not even be competitive.”

These are the words that come from Andrew “The Frost Giant” Priolo, a 5-3 fighter out of American Canyon, California that trains out of Nobody MMA in nearby Suisun City. Priolo is looking to compete at 559 Fights 99 against Porterville’s Pedro Trujillo, a 3-2 prospect.

This matchup is looking to be the first matchup in the Middleweight tournament for the 559 Fights Middleweight Belt, a belt formerly held by Joaquin Garcia who has formerly vacated the title due to inactivity. 

On the other side of the Middleweight title bracket, Hanford's Giovanni Ascensio (2-1) takes on Fresno’s Larry Zavala (2-0). The winner of this fight will then face the winner between Trujillo and Priolo for the 559 Fights Middleweight Belt, possibly for 559 Fights 100 on September 16th.

Although it has been nearly a decade, Priolo is looking to make his return to a cage that he has had a lot of success in years past.

Although he has been out of action since 2016, Priolo was one of the top amateur Middleweights in the state and proved it with a Guillotine choke in the First round way back at 559 Fights 46 in May of 2016, earning the 559 Fights Middleweight Belt.

Riding that victory, “The Frost Giant” suffered a Knockout loss to Luke Folkens at the Best of the Best Fight Series only two months later. Ironically enough, Priolo cites this loss as a “wake-up” call to him.

When asking him why such a long departure from the cage, Priolo stated this in regards to his absence, “I was going to have two more fights and then go pro… There was an injury I had probably a couple of months after the 559 Fights title so that put me out for a little bit and it was just really a tough time in my life. There was a lot of stuff I had to sit back and prioritize.”

For Priolo, it was not just the glamor and lights that he cared about, but also the son he had waiting for him back home after his fights. Now a registered nurse, it was not an easy journey for the now fighter-turned-nurse. 

“Nursing school… going through the RN program and getting all the prerequisite courses done and it is so competitive. I had to put fighting on the back burner for a little... I finished my RN program and got my nursing pin last year.”

Whether it be taking care of a patient or taking care of business inside the octagon, “The Frost Giant” is ready to go out on his shield Saturday, July 29th at Valley Strong Ballpark as he faces Pedro Trujillo in one half of the 559 Fights Middleweight Belt Tournament at 559 Fights 99. 

If you would like to purchase tickets for the event, contact any fighter on the 559 Fights 99 Card or head to Eventbrite.com for more details!

By: Michael Hernandez - MLH Media

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