F. Maldonado during the UFC Fight Night 38 press conference. Photo: Reproduction/YouTube
At the bookmakers, Fábio Maldonado was not a favorite against Gian Villante. This Sunday (23), when the two entered the Octagon at UFC Natal, however, what we saw was the Brazilian better in the fight – especially in the last two rounds. The main key to Maldonado's victory was his boxing, which gave him the third best record in connected strikes in the history of the light heavyweight category. The supremacy of your stand-up game against your training partner Chris Weidman It didn't come as a surprise to the former boxer.
“I knew the stoppage was standing up, I knew it was going to be resolved standing up. Only if he gave in and I could finish. He decided to just hold me down. If he tries to submit or knock me out, he would give me the opportunity to submit or get up. He left the fight somewhat tied up in the first round. Then, if I bleed, then I'll work. I work by being beaten, like a scoundrel's wife”, said the Brazilian at the press conference shortly after the event, drawing laughter from those present.
Maldonado also revealed that he did not do very intense physical training, on the grounds that he was worried about the damage that excessive effort could have on his performance. “I thought I started the first round without even knowing I was fighting. I took two ‘quedãos’ and felt Villante’s strength, I saw that he is very strong. This was one of the fights in which I did the least physical preparation. We are afraid, because we want to show the best, but in one of these situations we end up giving overtraining“, concluded “Caipira de Aço”.
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