Matheus Luna joins The Crown last minute to face Iceman
Called up Thursday to replace Uanderson Ferreira, Luna wants to finish the match. José Steve points out he won their last two
Matheus Luna wasn’t even in The Crown bracket until Thursday. Called up to replace Uanderson Ferreira at middleweight, he changed his flight, traveled to Long Beach, California, and on Sunday (Nov. 8) faces José “Iceman” Steve in the quarterfinals.
The day before, Luna told VF Comunica why he said yes: “A fighter fights. You have to always be ready. They call, you’re ready to fight.”
One phone call, one changed flight
Luna was about to fly to another tournament when he got the call Thursday morning. “I didn’t think twice. I called the airline and changed my ticket to the next day I could travel, so I’d have the chance to come here and go at it with the best.”
Ice vs. fire
The matchup has history. “I’ve fought Steve twice this year and both matches ended 0-0,” said Luna, who lost the last one by referee decision at the Brasileiro. “I think I’m technically better now, more mature.” Asked if he will melt the ice, he said: “The plan is to finish the match.”
When VF Comunica told Steve that Luna promised to beat him and do his celebration, the Iceman replied: “If they want to beat me, they can beat me. It’s not a problem. But why do they always want to take my celebration?” He also pointed to his record: “I fought twice against Matheus and I won twice. So I think that’s what makes him even more dangerous.” And a warning: “Tomorrow will be the war. It will be a cold war.”
The winner faces the winner of Mica Galvão vs. Leleo Souza in the semifinal.
The full interviews are in our Crown vlog on the VF Comunica YouTube channel. VF Comunica’s coverage of The Crown is presented by Kingz.
Read more
José Steve hides his game plan to beat Uanderson
Mica Galvão draws Leleo Souza in his Crown 2026 debut
Does Luna melt the ice, or does the Iceman keep his streak?
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