Kaue Fernandes returns to the octagon Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi to face Mohammad Yahya and obtain redemption after struggling a cut up resolution loss to Marc Diakiese at UFC 301 in his native Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fernandes is switching from home-field benefit to enemy territory in his second UFC look, however is focusing extra on the issues he has to do contained in the cage quite any stress introduced from the stands, both with cheers or boos.
“I believe I had debut,” Fernandes instructed MMA Preventing. “I made errors, however I believe I received the battle. There was just one aggressor in that battle, and I used to be the aggressor. His solely good second within the battle was to stall. He’s a superb fighter however he didn’t need to battle me, and so they gave him the win despite the fact that he was nearly knocked out and submitted with an armbar.”
Just one choose scored the bout in Fernandes’ favor, giving him a 29-28 scorecard with benefits in rounds one and two, nonetheless the opposite two judges disagreed.
Fernandes stated he discovered classes from that battle, primarily to deal with enhancing his wrestling and conditioning.
“It’s a whole lot of stress to debut within the UFC and I anticipated to really feel very nervous, however I believe I did effectively. I wasn’t intimidated,” stated Fernandes, whose opponent had a 7-7 UFC document going into that bout. “Many individuals choke beneath these circumstances and I’ve proven I’ll carry out and provides my all towards whoever, so that provides me confidence going ahead.”
Diakiese accomplished his UFC contract that night time and selected to not re-sign with the promotion, inking a cope with PFL as an alternative.
Fernandes doubles down on his opinion that Diakiese ought to’ve left on a three-fight dropping skid — following prior defeats to Michael Johnson and Joel Alvarez — quite than a win.
“I can’t cry over spilled milk,” Fernandes stated. “I’ve rewatched that battle 1,000 occasions and I believe he received the third spherical, however you’ll be able to’t give him rounds one and two.”
“UFC naturally renews its roster and so they wouldn’t re-sign him with out a superb efficiency, and he received in extremely contested vogue,” he continued. “The battle was thrilling till he made it boring. I’d quite get beat up and bloody and lose than [that]. … I left with a clear face and he went straight to the hospital. Who received the battle? He realized within the first spherical he couldn’t stand and commerce with me. I might have executed extra. I’ve to get out of these conditions as a result of I’d face that once more, nevertheless it’s laborious to battle somebody who simply doesn’t need to get completed.”
Yahya, a former light-weight champion in his native United Arab Emirates, can also be making an attempt to rebound from a choice defeat in his UFC debut after dropping to Trevor Peek at UFC 294.
Fernandes vows to do something wanted to emerge victorious for the primary time contained in the octagon.
“I believe Mohammad may come to grapple after seeing that opening in my final battle, or he may do his factor and stand and commerce,” Fernandes stated. “Or perhaps I can grapple him? Successful is what issues. If I’ve to grapple to beat him, so be it. I don’t rule something out on this battle. I’m very highly effective within the first spherical, and if it lands, he’ll really feel it. That’s the right situation, however I’m in no rush. I’m able to go three rounds too.”
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