ATT's Joshua Smith Predicts 2nd-Round Finish Over Dinis Paiva At CES 62 In Orlando

Joshua Smith won’t be alone when he enters the cage at CES 62 on April 30 at Caribe Royale Orlando.

The New Orleans-born lifelong wrestler will be backed by his American Top Team family, one of the sport’s most dominant squads.

“Oh my gosh, training at ATT has changed me so much,” says Smith, who began training under the ATT banner about six years ago. “Prior to my time here, I had some trouble managing my weight and cutting weight effectively. That’s just one aspect of the game that I’ve mastered here.”

Smith’s main training partners include former CES champion Andre Soukhamthath, current Rizin champion Kyoji Horiguchi, current ONE champion Adriano Moraes and top-ranked UFC star Alexandre Pantoja, among countless others of the world’s best fighters.

“It really is the best team in the game,” Smith says, “and it’s an honor to fight under this banner.”

Smith was admittedly surprised when he was asked to fight Dinis “Sweetbread” Paiva, a man synonymous with the CES brand, in the Co-Main Event of CES 62 later this month. Still, he jumped at the opportunity to test himself against a Contender Series vet and former CES title challenger.

“Getting this fight was unexpected, but I accept every fight as an opportunity,” the personable young fighter explains. “I treat every bout like it’s my first and last.”

So how does Smith see fight night playing out?

“I’m going to finish him in the second round,” Smith says. “I’m training to go the distance, obviously, and I wouldn’t mind taking it into deeper waters, but I see myself finishing it in the second round.”

FightBookMMA

Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.