W. Turman (left) had the help of G. Teixeira (right) in preparing for the UFC Las Vegas 35. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Pressured for an Ultimate victory, Wellington Turman returns to the octagon this weekend. On Saturday (28), at UFC Las Vegas 35, the average weight (up to 83,9kg.) will exchange forces with Sam alvey and the energy couldn't be better. In an exclusive interview with SUPER FIGHTS, the Brazilian spoke with excitement about the preparation for the duel, the moment and spoke about the way he believes he will beat his rival.
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Excited about his new commitment, Turman climbs into the octagon under pressure for a positive result. In his recent UFC history, the athlete has one victory in four appearances.
Defeats and learnings
A Brazilian promise in the middleweight division (up to 83,9 kg.) of Ultimate, Turman has two knockout setbacks in a row. The athlete, however, shows maturity when dealing with mistakes, pointing out mistakes and guarantees that he has learned from his last performances.
“In my first fight in (Las) Vegas (August 2020, against Andrew Sanchez), I think I went in thinking the fight was going to be easy. I ended up going too far, I played a game that I'm not one to play, getting into a fight. It ended up being a fight that anyone could fall for. I landed good shots and he (Sanchez) landed good shots. There was a little lack of strategy. I ended up coming to Vegas, wanting to enjoy it, hang out. It wasn't right. It's a young man's mistake. We do this. In the second fight (June 2021, against Bruno Blindado), I lacked a little patience. He wanted to end the fight quickly. I joined to do my grappling game, because Blindado is more of a knockout artist. I was playing a good game, but I ended up slipping up, I slipped. It didn't work out in the fight. I slipped and fell underneath. MMA is a complicated sport. A hand ended up coming in, I felt it, and then the fight ended. I learned several lessons”, said the Brazilian.
Training with Glover and evolution
In a new moment in his career, Wellington gained weight for his advancement as a fighter. The combatant spoke about the participation of Glover Teixeira in his training and celebrated the support of the challenger for the light heavyweight title (up to 93kg.). According to the Tupiniquim, the veteran's help corrected mistakes regarding anxiety in a confrontation.
“I spent five weeks training with Glover and I had to change that (anxiety) during training, because, if you make a mistake there, you fall down. Before, I didn't have the quality of training I have today. There were a lot of good people, my team was incredible, but there comes a time when, to fight against the best in the world, you have to train with the best. This helped me a lot. These weeks were worth three months of camp (training period). You can be sure that you will see a Wellington Turman very different, patient. I know I have three rounds to win the fight. I’m much more prepared”, he guaranteed.
Pressure for the result
In the quest to get back on track with victories, Turman shows his feet on the ground to deal with the current situation in the organization. Even under pressure, the combatant claims to be calm about the duel and once again mentions Glover's importance at this moment.
“I’m too calm. I think the best psychologist you have – not that a psychologist is bad – is to train well and get to fight week well, without any injuries. It's the best thing for your head. In the five weeks I had at the gym with Glover, I trained really well. One thing Glover said is that the athlete has time to lose. Everyone will lose one day. No one will be invincible forever. Sometimes it's a bad day. We know our potential. I know what I can do inside the octagon, how much I train, how much I dedicate myself. I don't think about defeat. I'm just thinking about victory. There are two defeats, but the UFC is very easy to change the game: you just have to win well. I've already won a lot of fights and now I'm going through a bad period. I have 16 wins, but I saw guys telling me to retire. And the fights I won? I’ve beaten big names, but to speak, there’s a lot,” he said.
Opponent analysis
If the light is yellow for Turman, the Brazilian's opponent, Sam alvey, is experiencing an ‘all or nothing’ moment. The veteran is on a streak of six fights without winning and has publicly admitted that he is on his last chance. Thus, Wellington analyzed the opponent and needs to expand the opponent's bad phase to emerge with the triumph on Saturday.
"The Sam alvey He's a striker, but he's not an aggressive guy, who comes forward, who looks for a fight. He plays in a place I like. I'm a grappler, I like to play on the fence. My falls, if I catch them, no one is left standing. I also improved my striking a lot. I'm going to do the grappling part, which I do well. I’m not going to play a crazy game,” he said.
Spiked outcome
To win and convince, Wellington doesn't just want to 'dream' about the ideal ending to the confrontation. In the fighter's head, the outcome is already confirmed. The fighter even risked the round.
“I'm already warning you. I know what I'm going to do. In the second round, I'll take the Sam alvey in the rear naked choke. I already feel like I’m grabbing his neck here now (laughs)”, she concluded.
Athletes' history
At 25, Wellington Turman is heading towards his 22nd appearance as a professional in MMA. Today, the fighter has 16 wins and five losses in his career.
Professional in MMA since 2008, Sam alvey will make his 51st challenge in the sport. Today, the 35-year-old veteran has 33 triumphs, 15 setbacks, one draw and one no contest.
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