LAS VEGAS – Bernardo Sopaj has designs on in the future being a UFC champion, so Saturday’s matchup with Ricky Turcios at UFC Struggle 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 towards Vinicius Oliveira after beginning the struggle sturdy.
It was an unpleasant approach to be launched to the UFC, however an vital lesson and setback for Sopaj. It didn’t deter his purpose of being champion, however beginning 0-2 within the octagon would make his title trajectory that for much longer, though it’s been accomplished earlier than.
“(A victory is) only one step nearer to what I need, one step nearer to the belt as a result of I’m right here to take the belt and nothing else,” Sopaj informed MMA Junkie at Wednesday’s UFC Struggle 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’d come right here for this it could be the unsuitable choice. After I began with MMA I mentioned, ‘OK, if I wish to do that, I’ve to be one of the best.’
“To be within the UFC, for me, is only the start. My purpose is to be one of the best, my purpose 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 fashion to the cage, nevertheless it’s not an strategy that breeds any concern from Sopaj.
“He’s an excellent all-around fighter,” Sopaj mentioned. “He has a bit of little bit of a bizarre fashion. He’s like a road fighter. However I consider I’m higher than him all over the 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 chunk of the six-fight most important card on Saturday. Then former champion Cody Garbrandt withdrew from the co-main occasion towards Miles Johns, and the lineup was shifted with Sopaj vs. Turcios now within the co-headliner.
That’s an even bigger highlight for Sopaj, however he mentioned it’s solely enhancing his motivation to ship a spectacular efficiency.
“No stress,” Sopaj mentioned. “I really feel excellent, very assured. This provides me additional pleasure. I really feel excellent. I realized about this (on Tuesday) and I really feel excellent about it. I’m joyful. … I really feel excellent. I’m very grateful.”
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