Isaac Dulgarian (7-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) bought again into the win column after defeating Brendon Marotte (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) on the UFC occasion held Sept. 7.
Dulgarian mentioned he feels “fairly good” about his second-round arm triangle victory.
“Any time you go into the UFC Octagon and get a end, it’s a giant deal,” Dulgarian instructed Patch. “I don’t assume I confirmed my full potential, but in addition, I’m very happy with my efficiency. I believe I did precisely what I used to be speculated to do; I bought him out of there and placed on just a little beatdown, as properly. Principally, one-way site visitors.”
Dulgarian entered the combat with Marotte as the most important betting favourite in UFC historical past, closing on most books round -2400. He mentioned the popularity “speaks volumes” to what he’s finished in his younger profession to date, in addition to his potential.
“Undoubtedly, I really feel like that’s a giant a part of why I used to be that massive of a favourite,” he mentioned. “Additionally, [Marotte] fought Terrance [McKinney] and bought knocked out. However Terrance does that to all people. He even knocked out one in all my teammates very early. He’s superb. We didn’t know a lot concerning the man. Simply to go in there and combat my combat with out watching any movie or video on him was a great feeling.
Dulgarian addressed the pre-fight stress that comes with being the most important betting odds favourite within the decades-long historical past of the promotion.
“It positively provides stress, as a result of I already know when you lose being the most important betting favourite in UFC historical past, I’d must delete my social medias,” he mentioned. “Folks have been going to go loopy. There’s added stress there, but in addition, one factor that I’ve all the time recognized is that stress is a privilege. I deserved to be on this spot and I earned it. I actually assume that’s the most important factor, is that I earned that spot.”
Dulgarian mentioned the wrestling-heavy strategy was “half” of his recreation plan towards Marotte, however he wasn’t anticipating to lean on it as quickly into the bout as he did.
“The actual recreation plan was for me to go on the market and – I had my ankles taped, I used to be able to kick – and strike with him,” Dulgarian mentioned. “However I actually didn’t like how he tried to take the middle once we touched gloves, so I form of went again to my recreation plan, which was, ‘OK, I do know I’m a greater grappler than you.’ His recreation plan was to maintain me on my again foot so I can’t shoot as properly and hold fixed stress on me. I noticed as quickly because the combat began, I used to be like, ‘That’s not taking place.’ I simply determined to not let him execute his recreation plan in any respect and take it into my very own management. That’s form of what occurred. I’m proud of it. I want I bought to indicate off my placing, however it’s going to return out one other day. The great factor is, we nonetheless haven’t proven what I’m able to. I’ve principally finished the identical factor in all of my fights, and I’ve a lot greater than that. In the future, I’ll have the best opponent who will draw that out.”
Dulgarian mentioned he wasn’t stunned Marotte survived the spherical one onslaught on the bottom, as a result of Dulgarian appears like he let Marotte survive.
“My coaches have been telling me to be affected person and provides my pictures the entire combat,” Dulgarian mentioned “Nearly your complete time. Each time I began trying to end, they’d inform me to reel it again out. I believe that was a great factor, as a result of it reveals that I might end previous the midway level of the combat. I caught lots of flak for getting drained within the third spherical versus Christian [Rodriguez], and it was good to show to these individuals I might nonetheless end late within the combat and in addition really feel good doing it and never be drained.”
Dulgarian misplaced a break up determination to Rodriguez in his final bout – the primary and solely lack of his skilled profession. He mentioned it was a “good feeling” to get again within the win column towards Marotte however feels he ought to nonetheless be undefeated.
“I really feel, personally, and I really feel most individuals nonetheless imagine, I received that combat,” Dulgarian mentioned. “I didn’t stroll out of that combat actually feeling like a loser. The one factor that made me really feel like a loser was strolling out with half my test. That was the one dangerous half about that. It feels good about being within the win column, man. Like I mentioned earlier, getting wins within the UFC is difficult. It doesn’t come simple regardless of who your opponent is. I’m tremendous blessed to go on the market and be capable to carry out like that and are available dwelling with none main accidents or something like that.”
Dulgarian mentioned he doesn’t have any callouts however desires to combat somebody round his degree within the featherweight division.
“I’m hoping to get on my second contract. Hopefully, that involves fruition within the subsequent combat. Hopefully, my subsequent combat, I’m on a brand new contract and see from there. I really feel like that was the perfect matchup the UFC gave me, my final one [versus Marotte]. The primary two, I really feel like they tried to get me just a little bit. However I proved that I belong. Any of the newer guys coming in or guys sitting across the identical expertise as me, that will be wonderful.”
Dulgarian mentioned he plans to be able to combat on quick discover earlier than the top of the yr if wanted, because it doesn’t appear like he’ll get a combat scheduled on common discover earlier than 2024 turns to 2025. However he “100%” desires a combat booked by the early a part of subsequent yr.
“I’m wholesome and able to go proper now,” he mentioned. “I’m going to start out coaching, and we’ll be prepared for short-notice alternatives, most positively.”
Featured Picture credit score:Embed from Getty Photos
