Gabriel Bonfim headlines a UFC card coming off of a controversial split-decision victory over two-time title challenger Stephen Thompson. Nonetheless, he vows to present followers a memorable night time when he faces Randy Brown in the principle occasion of UFC Vegas 111.
Bonfim and Brown had been initially scheduled to face off as a part of UFC Rio in October, however had been shifted to this Saturday’s headliner at UFC APEX present when Brown was compelled off the Brazil occasion with an harm. Each “shocked” and honored with the headlining spot, Bonfim guarantees fireworks this weekend.
“I imagine I’ll cease him within the second spherical,” Bonfim advised MMA Combating. “Both I’ll knock him out or submit him — however I imagine I’ll knock him out. I’ve been coaching and bettering my placing so much, and it’s one thing I’ve at all times favored. We actually perfected it on this camp.”
Brown is a veteran of 20 octagon appearances with 14 of these fights going his means. Solely two males had been capable of knock him out in MMA, Niko Value and Vicente Luque, and “Marretinha” goals to hitch that unique membership to develop his inventory after the shut three-round conflict with “Wonderboy” in July.
“I wish to placed on a present for the followers,” Bonfim mentioned. “In my final struggle I fought to a technique as a result of he’s a unique degree, a man with a variety of expertise. I wish to present just a little extra of myself on this struggle, to present the followers the present they deserve. Commerce so much, take him down, get again up and buying and selling with him.
“I couldn’t let unfastened in any respect or deviate from the technique in opposition to Wonderboy as a result of he’s a really harmful man who at any second might kick me within the face — prefer it virtually occurred. Randy Brown, not a lot. To me, Randy Brown is extra passive. He likes to manage the struggle, very calm, you recognize? It’s a struggle the place I can present a bit extra of myself.”
Bonfim mentioned Brown is “a lanky man who fights at vary, with straight photographs and a variety of jab” and feels that matches up properly with what he plans on doing over 25 minutes or much less. The Brazilian considers Brown to be a positive matchup and thinks that’s an indication the UFC desires to present him a platform to shine and probably enter the welterweight rankings in 2026.
“I imagine he doesn’t have a lot to supply on this struggle,” Bonfim mentioned of Brown. “I feel they put me there to take one other step ahead in my profession. It’s an excellent struggle for me. In my view he provides no hazard in any respect, you recognize? To not point out that at any second I can put him on his again and submit him.”
The Brazilian doesn’t have a reputation in thoughts for a post-fight callout for the reason that prime of the division has a busy month in December, with a lot of the ranked athletes at present booked. He does have some concepts in thoughts, although, and can volunteer to step in for a type of bouts in case one thing occurs to any fighter.
“I imagine that I’ll get into the highest 10 by knocking him out or submitting him,” Bonfim mentioned. “It’s form of tough proper now [to say who could be next] as a result of six of the highest 10 have fights on the New York occasion, however there’s nonetheless [Kamaru] Usman, Joaquin Buckley, Colby [Covington], guys who might be matched with me.”
