Skip to main content

Rinat Fakhretdinov initially thought UFC on ESPN 47 booking vs. Kevin Lee was 'a prank'

LAS VEGAS – Rinat Fakhretdinov had to do a double take when he was offered a matchup with Kevin Lee at UFC on ESPN 47.

Fakhretdinov (20-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) admits he was caught off guard when the promotion came to him with a fight against Lee (19-7 MMA, 11-7 UFC), who is set to make his return to the octagon Saturday at the UFC Apex after nearly two years away. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.

“The first thought I had was, ‘Is this a prank? No way. Kevin Lee?'” Fakhretdinov told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “I thought they were going to call me and say, ‘No, you get a different opponent.’ Then I realized it was for real and I really was happy about it. He’s got a big name, he’s a former title challenger, he’s got a lot of media following, and he’s an important fighter. So, I was really happy to fight with him, and I’m excited to stand and bang with him.”

Since Lee made his UFC debut more than nine years ago, his talent and potential have been clear. He’s failed to meet expectations at times, but after changing gyms, management and winning one fight outside the promotion, he is back in hopes of starting another run.

Fakhretdinov is aware of all the ups and downs “The Motown Phenom” has endured, but he’s preparing for the best version of Lee.

“I’m not worried about the fact his record has losses,” Fakhretdinov said. “We have many champions in the different parts of MMA that has had losses before. I’m not thinking because he has losses he’s a weaker fighter or a worse fighter. I think he’s a strong fighter. It’s all about his preparation. How seriously did he take this fight? Is he going to come out? What kind of Kevin Lee is going to come out?”

Fakhretdinov enters UFC on ESPN 47 riding a 19-fight winning streak. He hasn’t suffered a defeat since June 2013, and just two fights into his UFC tenure is starting to garner attention as a potential future welterweight contender.

He wants to meet those expectations, and said being more active will be key to climbing the ranks. If he wins this fight, he hopes for another step up at 170 pounds.

“I think it really depends on what kind of win it’s going to be,” Fakhretdinov said. “If it’s going to be a submission, if it’s going to be a knockout, if it’s going to be a quick one. But I think that at least I’m going to be put in the top 20 with this win and I’m going to ask for a fight in Abu Dhabi. And hopefully in Abu Dhabi I’ll be able to fight someone in the top 15. My goal this year is to be in the top 15.

To hear more from Fakhretdinov, check out his complete UFC on ESPN 47 media day interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.



from MMA Junkie https://ift.tt/txWC8Mo
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