Diego Ferreira hasn’t been that lively as of late, and he blames Drew Dober and Dan Hooker for not getting into the UFC cage greater than as soon as in 2024.
Ferreira has solely fought twice since 2022, profitable efficiency bonuses for his knockouts of Michael Johnson and Mateusz Rebecki within the UFC. He mentioned he’s solely returning to motion this weekend at UFC 311 as a result of Dober and Hooker turned down fights within the second half of this previous yr.
“I need to struggle guys which can be ranked forward of me, however I need to keep lively,” Ferreira informed MMA Combating forward of his UFC 311 conflict with Grant Dawson. “[UFC] provided me Dober, and Dober mentioned, ‘Ah, I don’t need to struggle.’ They provided me Hooker, and he mentioned, ‘Ah, I don’t need to struggle.’ Come on, brother. I do what I’ve to do, you understand? Grant Dawson is in entrance of me now and I’ve to stroll by him to point out I’m right here.”
Dober ended up shedding to Jean Silva in July, whereas Hooker received a cut up resolution over Mateusz Gamrot in his sole look of 2024. Ferreira would love an opportunity to struggle both subsequent, or perhaps avenge a previous loss to Gamrot. Greater than that, his objective is to remain lively contained in the cage.
“I believed I’d get one other struggle straight away [after beating Rebecki] nevertheless it didn’t occur, they stored me on the shelf for nearly a yr,” Ferreira mentioned. “I’ll benefit from the chance now. Brief-notice fights, no matter, I’ll be prepared. I’m not getting any youthful, I can’t deny that, so I’ve to benefit from each alternative, of each struggle.”
Ferreira fights Dawson on Saturday, the identical day he celebrates his fortieth birthday. The Brazilian light-weight scored his most up-to-date submission on his thirty fifth birthday, tapping out ex-UFC champion Anthony Pettis in the primary card of Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone in Las Vegas, so it’s “good vitality” that he’s as soon as once more feeling as he goes for a end on his birthday.
“My coaching was targeted on his wrestling, which was good for me,” Ferreira mentioned. “I need to present my jiu-jitsu once more and go for the submission. I received two knockouts now. It’s not my fashion, however thank God I received these two wins, and now I would like so unhealthy to get one other submission for my profession.”
Dawson scored submissions in 13 of his 22 MMA wins, together with 4 finishes over Mark Madsen, Jared Gordon, Darrick Minner and Michael Trizano beneath the UFC banner. Ferreira mentioned Dawson has potential, “however I’m in my prime now.”
“He doesn’t like being within the cage,” Ferreira mentioned. “I feel he’s too determined typically. Me, I like being within the octagon and doing what I do. I feel I’ll take this struggle to later rounds as a result of it is going to favor me so much. I should be cautious, I do know he’ll shoot at my legs to wrestle me and hold me in opposition to the cage, and I’m able to counter that.”
