From the Bronx (photo) faces Hioki in June. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
As far as it depends on Charles of the Bronx, your year 2014 will be quite busy. The São Paulo native, who already had a fight in February, when he beat Andy Ogle, has another commitment scheduled, on June 28th, when he will face Hatsu Hioki in the co-main event of the UFC's first visit to New Zealand.
In an interview given to SUPER FIGHTS podcast, Do Bronx said he expected a fight with a lot of movement. “He's a guy who always moves forward, he's very tough, and I also always try to move forward. It's going to be an explosive fight and I hope we can make a good strategy. But you can already tell that it will be a war”, he commented.
The defeats suffered by Hioki to Ricardo Lamas, Clay guida and Darren Elkins are an indication of the path the Brazilian can take to win. “He fought with three wrestlers, who did that kneading work and won it. I'm going to sit down with my teachers to come up with a good plan. But my strategy is to always move forward and do what I like to do, which is use my jiu-jitsu. I'm improving more and more in my stand-up, Muay Thai and boxing, and I'm going to work on everything a little. Wherever he gives an opening, I’ll play on it”, he analyzed. “This next fight is very important. I promised someone that I will win, and I will win regardless of whether it is submission or knockout. I will win this fight.”
Charles of the Bronx hopes that his campaign in 2014 will be more productive than last year, a period which he considers to be the worst of his career. “Last year was very difficult for me. It was defeat, injury after injury… It was the most difficult year of my career. This year, I started very well, helping the kids on my team. Soon after, I had my fight, on February 15th. And now there’s Hioki, who is also very tough”, he said.
Charles of the Bronx hope to meet again Nik lentz: 'I want to beat him again'
Submission over Lentz was turned into a no-contest. Photo: Disclosure/UFC
If he beats Hioki in June, Do Bronx is already thinking about his next step within the UFC. He would like to have a rematch with Nik lentz, whom he faced in 2011 in a fight that ended without result.
The fight, held in the lightweight category, ended in a no-contest after an illegal blow by the Brazilian. From the Bronx, he kneed Lentz in the face when he still had one knee on the ground, which is not allowed by regulation. After that, the São Paulo native managed to secure a submission, and the result of the fight was changed a few days later.
Today, both fighters are part of the featherweight category, with Lentz occupying ninth place in the division's rankings. “I’m going to ask for this rematch. I really want this rematch against him. We just need to fight again to see who can do more and who can do less”, said Charles, who commented on the episode that occurred in the fight.
“The first knee I gave him was illegal, but it didn't do anything. Soon after, I threw the second knee that blew out his eyeball, that was the one that really stuck. But in front of me he said something, that it hadn't been illegal, and behind my back he told everyone that I acted maliciously and that he was reversing the situation of the fight. Anyone who watched the fight saw that he was beaten in the first [round], he was beaten in the second and he was being beaten in the third. So, for that reason, I want to have this chance again to be able to show that I beat him and I can beat him again”, continued Do Bronx.
The fight against Lentz was part of a negative period in the Brazilian's career. Before and after this fight, he suffered defeats, to Jim Miller e Donald Cerrone.
“In my fight with Cerrone, my teachers said it was another mistake on their part. I was still very young, I didn't have that much experience and I fought a guy who had a lot of experience and is very good in the category. I think that was the error. Against Jim Miller, I had an injury before and I still wanted to fight. I underestimated his ground part a little – I tried to submit 20 times, he gave it once and caught it”, she commented.
Check out the full interview with Charles of the Bronx, in addition to debates about MMA news in the latest edition of SUPER FIGHTS podcast!
[wpdm_file id = 9]
Comments