Timur Khizriev has by no means misplaced in 16 skilled MMA bouts, however Gabriel Braga vows to make him style defeat for the very first time on Friday at PFL 9.
Braga reached the 145-pound finals in 2023 and got here up quick towards Jesus Pinedo, struggling his solely loss within the sport, and climbed again to the playoffs after back-to-back stoppages over Justin Gonzales and Bubba Jenkins earlier this 12 months.
“All people is undefeated till they lose sooner or later, and now could be his flip,” Braga mentioned in an interview with MMA Preventing. “I’m all the time combating powerful opponents so it’s nothing new to me. I’m 100% prepared, each mentally and bodily. I’m able to placed on one other present in there and get the win.”
Khizriev went 3-0 in Bellator, together with a victory over former title contender Daniel Weichel, earlier than profitable twice beneath the PFL banner this 12 months. Regardless of his unbeaten resume, Braga mentioned he sees holes in his sport.
“I’m the kind of athlete that sees flaws in each fighter,” Braga mentioned. “Nobody is ideal, all people makes errors. He tends to get to positions and acquire time and make all of it to the top and we positively educated specializing in that and the methods he does to ensure we will placed on a spectacle in there.”
“Typically he stands and trades as nicely,” he continued. “However I consider he will certainly wish to grapple with me as soon as he feels my stress on the toes. I’ll be prepared for that sport and field him all night time.”
Braga mentioned that the expertise of competing within the 2023 championship last obtained him higher ready to carry out beneath stress and ship thrilling performances, and he feels able to “chase the belt this 12 months.”
Brendan Loughnane and Kai Kamaka III shall be competing for the opposite spot within the last in the primary occasion of PFL 9 at The Anthem, and Braga admits he would fairly face Loughnane for gold. Loughnane gained the PFL 2022 season championship, and has stopped Pedro Carvalho and Justin Gonzales thus far this 12 months.
“It’s a great combat with two good fighters,” Braga mentioned. “Brendan is quick, however Kamaka could be very resilient, a brawler. However I feel Brendan wins. I’ll win my combat, and I wish to combat him within the last.”
