Skip to main content

Augusto Sakai relieved to snap four-fight skid: 'It's been such a hard time in my life'

LAS VEGAS – Augusto Sakai can breathe a little easier now.

The UFC heavyweight picked up a much-needed win Saturday when he outpointed Don’Tale Mayes (9-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) for a unanimous decision on the main card of UFC Fight Night 220. Sakai (15-5-1 MMA, 4-4 UFC) entered the event on a four-fight losing skid and winless since 2020.

It was a tough spot for Sakai, but he’s now starting to put that skid behind him.

“I’m so happy. It’s been such a hard time in my life these past couple of years,” Sakai said at the UFC Fight Night 220 post-fight press conference. “I started here in the (Dana White’s) Contender Series in 2018. It’s been highs and lows. I’m here for redemption. I’m here to write another history in the UFC.”

Often, a four-fight skid can mean the end of a fighter’s career in the UFC. Sakai told the media he felt no pressure leading up to the event, but that was all a facade. The Brazilian did have doubts entering UFC FightNight 220.

“Every time those thoughts came into my mind, anytime anything negative came into my mind, I would flip the switch and thought of something else,” Sakai said. “I just thought, ‘I want to come here. I want to do my best. I want to prove that my training and everything that I’m doing is working. I want to prove my worth in this organization.’

“Every time that thing came, that aspect, I switched it and thought positive things and worked out all right.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 220.



from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/Ccjs1vN
via IFTTT
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Drew Dober offers to be Michael Chandler's warm-up fight for Conor McGregor

LAS VEGAS – If Michael Chandler wants to step into the cage before his long-awaited matchup against Conor McGregor, Drew Dober has his hand raised. Dober (26-12 MMA, 12-8 UFC) returns to action on the main card of UFC Fight Night 229 to face Ricky Glenn (22-7-2 MMA, 4-4-1 UFC). While he isn’t looking past his upcoming opponent, Dober has threw his name in the hat should Chandler get tired of waiting around for McGregor to commit to a fight date. “He’s definitely waiting for Conor, I’m still unsure if Conor’s going to ever show up,” Dober told reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “If he wants a 5-foot-9 southpaw to get him warmed up for that fight, I’m absolutely available. He’s just got to let me know when he wants to do it.” Dober, a lightweight competitor, is willing to move up in weight to face Chandler, even though the two fighters share the same weight class. “He said he’s 190 pounds right now? I can fight him at 170,” Dober said. “I’m here for the excitement and he brings ...
Read more

Henry Cejudo: 'I still don't see Sean O'Malley as the best in the world' ahead of UFC 299

Henry Cejudo is not sold on Sean O'Malley as UFC bantamweight champion. O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) knocked out Aljamain Sterling to become 135-pound champion at UFC 292, whereas Cejudo is coming off a close title loss to Sterling at UFC 288 . O’Malley will make his first title defense against Marlon Vera in the UFC 299 headliner on March 9, and Cejudo is still adamant that “Chito” beats O’Malley again – despite being a sizable underdog. “I still don’t see Sean O’Malley as the best in the world,” Cejudo said on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel . “I don’t. I do believe ‘Chito’ Vera is going to beat him. You have good defense, you walk that dude down, you kick his freaking legs – he still has that wide leg – you kick his legs, you just bring the fight to him and grit. “This is what Sean O’Malley will do: He’ll look at the clock because he throws a lot of power. He is precise, but he throws a lot of it. I would bet the house on ‘Chito.’ Once I beat Merab (Dvalishvili), I’m goi...
Read more

Tatiana Suarez targets drop to strawweight next, lists Rose Namajunas as potential opponent

LAS VEGAS – Tatiana Suarez is set on a move back to strawweight, despite having a successful return at 125 pounds. Suarez made her long-awaited return to competition Saturday on the main card of UFC Fight Night 220. Suarez (9-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC), who hadn’t competed in nearly four years due to a series of injuries, submitted Montana De La Rosa (12-8-1 MMA, 5-4-1 UFC) in a women’s flyweight bout. But despite picking up a dominant win at 125 pounds, as well as a $50,000 bonus, Suarez is determined to return to her original weight class and resume a title run. “I think they should give me a really good opponent at strawweight, and I’ll earn it,” Suarez told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 220 post-fight press conference. “I’ve never been given anything in my life. I’ve always earned it, and I don’t mind doing that because I think that builds character. You have to work for the things you want in your life. I don’t mind doing that because that’s how my mom and grandma raised me. “I’...
Read more