Close to holding a long-awaited rematch against Islam makhachev, UFC 294, Charles of the Bronx expresses confidence and tranquility for the event. Coming from a devastating victory over Beneil Dariush, the former lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg.) regrets not being able to perform in front of the Brazilian public, but uses his faith to gain strength and return to the stage where he had the last defeat in his career.
In an exclusive interview to SUPER FIGHTS, Do Bronx declared that he does not treat rematches as a primary fight in his career in MMA; talked about feeling defeated by Makhachev; analyzed evolution as a fighter; explained why Ultimate would once again hold an edition in Abu Dhabi and revealed the ideal outcome for October 21st.
“(…) I am most certain in the world that God would not put me there (Abu Dhabi), on the same date and in the same place if I could not carry this burden. I'm ready for it, I'm happy with it and I'm going to get what's ours. Each fight has a story, certainly going back there, becoming champion over a guy who already beat me and on top of this whole promotion, this will definitely give me a huge direction, it will show what we said, that the 'champion has a name'. Really, I'm not taking this as something huge and personal, I have to take it as if it were any fight, to keep my feet on the ground and my spirit calm”, said Charles.
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Weight of defeat to Islam Makhachev
“I’m not going to say it was the worst defeat. For me, my only feeling was that I didn't fight. I didn't feel like I fought, I didn't feel like I was there. When you lose fighting, fighting, you can lose to any fighter. You know that you were there fighting and that the guy was better than me, but when you don't fight it's a different timing. It was a bit complicated, but I came home, the people who truly love me hugged me and said: 'calm down, let's work and come back again', so that's it. I’m ready again to make history.”
Evolution as a fighter
“I think I've been evolving. I went to Chute Boxe for this: to seek my evolution and grow more and more. God has been blessing me in this and I see myself as a complete guy, both on my feet and on the ground. A guy who fights with anyone, who does jiu-jitsu with anyone. I feel complete. I've been growing more and more in wrestling, I feel like an MMA fighter.”
Charles of the Bronx applies knockout to Beneil Dariush No. UFC 289. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Negotiation of the venue for the rematch
“It’s no use just negotiating. Do you think that Brazil, the governors, president, mayor, all these guys, do you think they do the same thing that happens in Abu Dhabi? What the sheikh does. The event happens there because the sheikh makes it happen. Here it's a war to fix the stadium, this and that. I don’t like this environment and I’m saying what I hear people say (…) do you want to fight in São Paulo? My biggest dream. How long has it been since I fought in Brazil? Close to my family, my friends, fans and the favela. One swallow doesn’t make a summer, it doesn’t just depend on us.”
Dream outcome at UFC 294
“One round. One hand".
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