LAS VEGAS – Bernardo Sopaj has designs on in the future being a UFC champion, so Saturday’s matchup with Ricky Turcios at UFC Combat Night time 247 has a excessive diploma of significance.
Sopaj (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a 24-year-old bantamweight out of Albania, stumbled in his octagon debut in March when he was on the receiving finish of an all-time spotlight reel flying knee knockout in opposition to Vinicius Oliveira after beginning the combat sturdy.
It was an unpleasant strategy to be launched to the UFC, however an essential lesson and setback for Sopaj. It didn’t deter his aim of being champion, however beginning 0-2 within the octagon would make his title trajectory that for much longer, though it’s been completed earlier than.
“(A victory is) only one step nearer to what I would like, one step nearer to the belt as a result of I’m right here to take the belt and nothing else,” Sopaj advised MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s UFC Combat Night time 247 media day. “I didn’t come right here to rejoice a victory. I didn’t come right here to say that I’m a UFC fighter. If I might come right here for this it will be the incorrect resolution. After I began with MMA I mentioned, ‘OK, if I wish to do that, I’ve to be the very best.’
“To be within the UFC, for me, is just the start. My aim is to be the very best, my aim is to get the belt and be the best fighter.”
Sopaj will look to safe his first octagon triumph when he takes on Turcios (12-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) on the UFC Apex (ESPN+). His opponent brings an unorthodox model to the cage, nevertheless it’s not an method that breeds any concern from Sopaj.
“He’s an excellent all-around fighter,” Sopaj mentioned. “He has just a little little bit of a bizarre model. He’s like a road fighter. However I imagine I’m higher than him in every single place. I’m a extra full fighter than him, stronger than him and extra technical.”
Initially, the matchup between Sopaj and Turcios was merely a bit of the six-fight essential card on Saturday. Then former champion Cody Garbrandt withdrew from the co-main occasion in opposition to Miles Johns, and the lineup was shifted with Sopaj vs. Turcios now within the co-headliner.
That’s a much bigger highlight for Sopaj, however he mentioned it’s solely enhancing his motivation to ship a spectacular efficiency.
“No strain,” Sopaj mentioned. “I really feel superb, very assured. This provides me additional pleasure. I really feel superb. I discovered about this (on Tuesday) and I really feel superb about it. I’m pleased. … I really feel superb. I’m very grateful.”
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