One-time UFC middleweight title contender Jared Cannonier is ranked No. 10 on the MMA Combating World Rating going into his UFC Vegas 102 principal occasion conflict with Gregory Rodrigues this Saturday, and the Brazilian “Robocop” sees it as his ticket to the highest of the division.
Rodrigues has received his previous three within the group with knockouts over Denis Tiuliulin and Brad Tavares adopted by a choice towards Christian Leroy Duncan, and vows to “proceed wanting up” within the rankings with a victory on the UFC APEX.
“I intention to grow to be UFC champion, to struggle for the belt,” Rodrigues instructed MMA Combating. “This struggle will put me in a wonderful place to name somebody out. I have already got a reputation in thoughts, however Cannonier first. I’ve photos of him throughout my home. That’s my goal now. It’s Robocop-style. As quickly as I put him down, I’ll intention on the subsequent one and proceed my journey in the direction of the belt.”
Rodrigues stated Duda, a good friend and “non secular brother”, was the one with the thought behind placing images of his opponents round the home to get him ready for struggle. It began previous to his third-round stoppage over Tavares, and Rodrigues’ spouse determined to maintain the plan going.
“I’ve images in my lounge, on the door after I depart, within the rest room. There are images in rooms I’m going essentially the most, apart from my daughter’s bed room and mine,” Rodrigues stated. “The remainder of the home, it’s in every single place. I’ve nothing towards him, brother, however he’s the one standing in entrance of me and he have to be stopped. I wish to stare are him. To not familiarize with him, however to make it widespread. I’ve seen this man already. I do know who I’m combating. It’s onerous to struggle somebody you don’t know.”
Rodrigues tore each photograph of Cannonier when he was about to depart for Las Vegas, however stored one with himself.
“When the mission is completed, I tear it and put together for the following one,” Rodrigues stated. “My spouse tells me to maintain wanting on the images. Even my daughter appears to be like at him. She even wrote a track. “Cannonier, you’ll lose’ [laughs]. Everyone’s with me on this mission. And I really like this, you already know? I really like this surroundings to maintain me prepared. I’ve extra motivation to coach and do what I have to do.”
Victorious in seven of 9 octagon appearances with 5 knockouts to his credit score, the previous LFA middleweight champion stated he’s thrilled to headline a UFC card for the primary time, particularly towards a person that has shared the cage with stars the caliber of Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker and Anderson Silva since chopping right down to 185 kilos — at mild heavyweight, Cannonier additionally confronted future champions Glover Teixeira and Jan Blachowicz.
“I by no means underestimate any of my opponents and it received’t begin now,” Rodrigues stated. “I’m getting ready for his greatest and his worst. As I at all times say, I’m not combating a reputation, I’m combating a person. It’s one other man standing there and no matter every little thing we’ve carried out to date, I’ll be certain that I’m prepared for this second. I at all times put together for my opponent’s greatest — and if he’s lower than what I count on from him, it’s the top of the road for him. I’ll kill him in there.”
Cannonier has solely been completed thrice in 25 professional fights, with losses to Nassourdine Imavov (a controversial fourth-round stoppage), Dominick Reyes and heavyweight Shawn Jordan, however Rodrigues stated he’s not simply one other one. Cannonier is now 40 years outdated, and enters UFC Vegas 102 coming off back-to-back defeats to Imavov and Caio Borralho.
“He has numerous holes and I’ll benefit from each single one in all them,” Borralho stated. “He [went the distance] with numerous guys he’s fought, however he’s by no means fought me. I imagine I’ve all of the instruments to cease him by knockout or on the bottom. I’ll discover a manner and there’s the place he’ll keep. I don’t go the gap that a lot. I don’t suppose like, ‘I’m within the first spherical, there are 4 left.’ I wish to suppose, ‘I’ve 5 minutes to kill this man. These 5 minutes are over? I’ve 5 extra.’ That places me in a great place, each mentally and bodily, to present my greatest.”
