Sapo highlights evolution in his game and says that ground is the best way against Herman

Sapo (photo) will face Herman at UFC Fight Night 40. Photo: Disclosure/UFC

Rafael Sapo, who will face Ed Herman at UFC Fight Night 40, this Saturday (10), is confident that his game has evolved and that, thus, he can join the list of best-ranked fighters in the UFC middleweight category.

The miner stated, in an interview with SUPER FIGHTS podcast, who has worked hard in recent months to repair some of the gaps he had in the Octagon, which will contribute to a good performance against the American veteran. “Since January I've been training for this fight, fixing some mistakes in my game, improving the ground and stand-up aspects. For this fight, as it couldn't be any different, I am very well trained. I improved in every aspect and closed some holes I had in my game. God willing, it will be a great fight and I will give everything to bring victory to Brazil”, explained Sapo.

The Brazilian admitted that Herman is a complete MMA athlete, but recognized that the ground fight could be the key to his victory. “I don’t see much of a gap in his game. He’s a good jiu-jitsu guy, a black belt, good at wrestling, he has good, heavy hands,” he praised. “He lost to three Brazilians who are very good at jiu-jitsu, which are Thales [Leites], Demian [Maia] and [Ronaldo] Jacaré. I also have very good jiu-jitsu – I'm a black belt under Renzo [Gracie] and [Vinícius] Draculino. We're believing a lot in my jiu-jitsu. Ed Herman himself is looking for a ground fight, so it has everything to be a great fight. But we know that the best path will always be jiu-jitsu, regardless of who I face. My best weapon is jiu-jitsu.”

If he manages to win against the North American, Sapo is already aiming for a position in the official UFC ranking, which covers the 15 best fighters in each category. “Here in the United States, you tell anyone about Ed Herman and everyone knows. That's really cool, because me beating him will have a really good repercussion. A very convincing victory, with a submission, a knockout, or a good fight, I think it has everything to put me in the top 15. But we know that everything has its time. I respect God’s time and whenever it happens, it will happen”, said the fighter.

'The fight with Kennedy showed that I have the potential to fight in the top 10', says Sapo

Kennedy (left) defeated Sapo in 2013. Photo: Disclosure/UFC

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In his last fight, in November last year, Rafael Sapo faced Tim Kennedy in the main attraction of UFC Fight for the Troops 3, at the Fort Campbell military base, in the US state of Kentucky. Despite losing by knockout in the first round, the Brazilian saw the fight as a valuable experience for his career.

“It was a defeat, we had to regret it, be sad, but we could see that I have the potential to fight in the top 10, among the best. I completely dominated Tim Kennedy in the first round until the punch came. We know it wasn't a lucky punch, but it happens. I have the potential to get to the top, but to get there, you can't have too many holes in your game. You have to remove the holes, because that differentiates the top 10 from the rest of the UFC crowd”, said the fighter.

The occasion also marked Sapo's first time in the main event at a UFC event. The Brazilian declared that he saw no problems in having the most important fight of the night, especially when facing ex-soldier Kennedy.

“Making a difference makes a difference, and there are a lot of people who feel it. I'm too good for that. The fight, besides being the main event, it was inside a headquarters. So, a lot of people who train with me were worried, but my head is very, very good for that. I do very well with pressure. It was a great achievement for my career and I want to do many main events”, added the Brazilian.

A UFC athlete since 2010, Sapo has a record in the organization of six wins, three losses and one draw. Before losing to Kennedy, he was on a run of three consecutive victories, against Sean Spencer, João Zeferino and Tor Troeng.

The main fight of UFC Fight Night 40 will feature the Brazilian Erick silva, who faces the seventh ranked welterweight, Matt Brown.

Check out the full interview with Rafael Sapo, in addition to an interview with Rogério Minotouro and debates about MMA news in the latest edition of SUPER FIGHTS podcast!

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