Fialho learned, for instance, that he “wasn’t made of iron.” He learned that, unlike what he’d once thought, he wasn’t invincible. He learned that his hands weren’t going to land and get the job done every time.

It was an important loss for Fialho. And seven months later, at Bellator 181, he had a chance to show he’d learned.

Judging by the fact he came out on the winning end, beating A.J. Matthews via split decision, one could think that’s just what he did. But the reality isn’t that simple.

Official outcome aside, Fialho was “embarrassed” by his display. He admits he underestimated Matthews – who hadn’t won a fight in almost two years. He was upset that he’d been given an opponent that he felt so superior to. And he’d later find out that, for all his first pro loss taught him, there was still a long way to go.

“It was all wrong: my mindset, my head,” Fialho said. “I heard the criticism that I only put drunk people to sleep with my hands, that I had heavy hands, and that I was good at drunk bar fights. So I didn’t want to knock A.J. Matthews out. I wanted to make the fight last.

“I always walk forward, and I walked backward in the first moments. I wanted to make it last. I wanted to show kicks, takedowns, but then when I wanted to put my hands on him, because I hadn’t trained, I gassed out. It was yet another great lesson.”

Fialho (9-1 MMA, 3-1 BMMA) returns after 15 months on Oct. 12 at Bellator 207 against Brennan Ward (14-6 MMA, 9-6 BMMA). And while 2017 was a rough year – to put it mildly, considering it involved injuries to his hand, rib, collarbone, and knee – the layoff worked to finally get Fialho where he needed to be.

“It was horrible,” Fialho said. “I had a bunch of fractures and injuries that didn’t allow me to be as active as I wanted. My head wasn’t well, either. My personal life, everything that was happening influenced it a bit. I needed this time off to give me that hunger, that drive to show the world how great I am.

“I am hungry and driven again now. But with a much better head, more experienced and calm. And very prepared for what may come.”

And that, much to Fialho’s delight, is 30-year-old Ward.

Fialho sees Ward as a “great athlete” and believes that their styles go very well together. Sure, Fialho is venturing into hostile territory at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., but he is so content with his growth that it’s not a disturbance; he’s focused on putting on the best fight of his life, he says, and the rest is mere background noise.

Fialho has made geographic changes, too. He moved to South Florida, where he’s now training at Hard Knocks 365, under Henri Hooft and alongside the likes of Robbie Lawler, Kamaru Usman, Gilbert Burns, Matt Mitrione, and other UFC and Bellator “machines.”

Fialho has certainly been feeling the evolution in more ways than one. Hopefully, next month, he’ll get to show it, too.

“I believe I’m a professional now,” Fialho said. “I wasn’t a professional. I have a team behind me, from nutrition to training. I’m a lot more consistent, as opposed to intense. I was very intense, always wanted to hit hard, I threw with a lot of intent. I grew a lot, I learned a lot.

“And one of the things I’ve learned is: I’ll never again go into that cage unprepared. That will never happen again.”