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LAS VEGAS – Gregory Rodrigues is days away from rematching an opponent who knocked him out in the first round, yet there doesn't seem to be a hint of concern about how things will unfold at UFC 326.
Rodrigues (18-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC) will step into the octagon to face Brunno Ferreira to kick off the main card at T-Mobile Arena (Paramount+, CBS). The middleweights first clashed at UFC 283 in what was the debut for Ferreira (15-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC). Rodrigues was knocked out cold by a left hand in the opening round.
After that moment, Rodrigues bounced back with three straight wins, landing a main event against former title challenger Jared Cannonier. Although he was finished in Round 4, Rodrigues took home a Fight of the Night bonus and has since won back-to-back fights. He's currently ranked by the UFC at No. 13, two spots ahead of Ferreira, who has gone 5-2 since their first meeting.
"Yeah, that show who I am, man," Rodrigues said at Wednesday's media day. "That night when he get the win against me was the best night of his life. I hope he enjoyed it, because the next one is gonna be completely different."
UFC 326 could shake up the middleweight division a bit, with a top-10 matchup between Caio Borralho and Rodrigues' teammate, Reinier de Ridder, also on the main card. It's a division that has seen its share of change in recent months, with Khamzat Chimaev capturing the division's title, and former champion Sean Strickland denying Anthony Hernandez entry among the elite. While Rodrigues knows he's not close to a title shot just yet, a big win against Ferreira will put him on the path.
"Everything has to change, right? The division start changing, that's good," Rodrigues said. "That's good for us coming to the top of the division. I'm happy to fight against a Brazilian guy as well, because we just put Brazil again in the top of the division, and that's nice. I don't know, I'll do my work. ... I get this opportunity to put my name in the top of the division, and sooner or later I will fight for the belt."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Gregory Rodrigues confident for UFC 326 rematch vs. Brunno Ferreira
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Rodrigues (18-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC) will step into the octagon to face Brunno Ferreira to kick off the main card at T-Mobile Arena (Paramount+, CBS). The middleweights first clashed at UFC 283 in what was the debut for Ferreira (15-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC). Rodrigues was knocked out cold by a left hand in the opening round.
After that moment, Rodrigues bounced back with three straight wins, landing a main event against former title challenger Jared Cannonier. Although he was finished in Round 4, Rodrigues took home a Fight of the Night bonus and has since won back-to-back fights. He's currently ranked by the UFC at No. 13, two spots ahead of Ferreira, who has gone 5-2 since their first meeting.
"Yeah, that show who I am, man," Rodrigues said at Wednesday's media day. "That night when he get the win against me was the best night of his life. I hope he enjoyed it, because the next one is gonna be completely different."
UFC 326 could shake up the middleweight division a bit, with a top-10 matchup between Caio Borralho and Rodrigues' teammate, Reinier de Ridder, also on the main card. It's a division that has seen its share of change in recent months, with Khamzat Chimaev capturing the division's title, and former champion Sean Strickland denying Anthony Hernandez entry among the elite. While Rodrigues knows he's not close to a title shot just yet, a big win against Ferreira will put him on the path.
"Everything has to change, right? The division start changing, that's good," Rodrigues said. "That's good for us coming to the top of the division. I'm happy to fight against a Brazilian guy as well, because we just put Brazil again in the top of the division, and that's nice. I don't know, I'll do my work. ... I get this opportunity to put my name in the top of the division, and sooner or later I will fight for the belt."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Gregory Rodrigues confident for UFC 326 rematch vs. Brunno Ferreira
Continue reading...
