Markus Maluko promises 'concentration and intelligence' to write a new story in Ultimate

M.Maluko faces D.Lungiambula in the UFC Fight Island 8. Photo/Reproduction: Instagram

Pressured by two consecutive defeats and willing to end his bad phase, Markus Maluko wants to write a new history in Ultimate. The Brazilian, who fights in UFC Fight Island 8 this Wednesday (20) against the South African Dalcha Lungiambula, says that he made changes to his training and believes that his mentality will help him to turn things around within the company.

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“I entered the UFC undefeated, and you look and I have four losses to four guys that none of them were better than me. If I train, you'll see that I'm going to beat everyone, but I get to the fight where I need to win and I lose. (…), then I started to change some things in relation to training and everything, and change some things in my head. I've always been a guy who liked to put on a show, do something crazy, and I saw that that's not what's going to help me win the fight. I have to go in to win the fight, I don't have to go in to put on a show”, revealed Markus Maluko, in an interview with 'Combate'.

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New 'Maluko'

The Brazilian also talked about the importance of strategy and preparation so he can win his next fight. Now, he says he is ready to show a 'new fighter' inside the octagons.

“I don’t know what my change as an athlete will be like inside, but my mind has changed. I believe this will also have an impact on my way of fighting, I will be a much more strategic guy. I believe that the word I should no longer use is 'crazy', but rather 'intelligent'. And after a while I start to associate the two things and who knows, maybe this idea will come back. But, at first, you will see a smart guy in the octagon”, he said.

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And the Joker?

Asked about the association with 'Joker', Markus Maluko stated that the character is present in his personality, but he is willing to bring the focus of the weighings into the cage.

“It’s something I’ll do if I feel like I want to do it, because it will feel good. Or I won't do it because I don't feel like it. And if I want to do something else, I'll do it. It's psychological work that I do. This thing about playing the Joker, I love it, people send me things directly, they see the Joker on television and tag me, but it's not something I do for people, I do it for myself. But there is the side of seriousness, of focus, I have to learn to balance things (…). I didn’t join the UFC to get people’s attention by staring, I got into the UFC to get people’s attention inside the octagon”, he concluded.

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At 30 years old, the Brazilian has been experiencing a period of fluctuation since arriving in Ultimate. Currently, there are five fights, with two wins and three losses. In professional MMA since 2013, Markus has a record of 12 triumphs and four setbacks in his career.