Rodolfo Bellato makes his UFC debut this Saturday at UFC Austin in opposition to the person who spoiled Mauricio Rua’s retirement bout earlier this yr, however doesn’t view the match as a possibility to avenge the Brazilian legend.
Ukraine’s Ihor Potieria stopped “Shogun” at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, knocking out the previous Satisfaction FC and UFC legend within the first spherical. Bellato debuts within the UFC after racking up a 11-2 file with two appearances on the promotion’s Contender Sequence, the latter of which earned him a UFC cope with a second-round end over Murtaza Talha in October.
“I’m an enormous fan of ‘Shogun’ and the work he’s performed since Satisfaction,” Bellato stated on MMA Preventing’s Trocação Franca podcast. “He’s an idol in Brazil and worldwide. I gained’t say it’s vengeance or something like that, however I’ll present [Potieria] that Brazil is Brazil. We’ll go there and get that victory. No vengeance, however present him that we had a legend in ‘Shogun’ and we even have new expertise arising, and I plan on in the future making historical past similar to ‘Shogun’ did.”
Bellato stated Potieria shall be his first southpaw opponent in MMA, and a really aggressive one which deserves respect. That being stated, he plans on including one other stoppage to his résumé.
“He likes to take his time, in the meantime I’m very aggressive,” Bellato stated. “I feel it’s a very good matchup for me. He gained’t be capable of keep calm for for much longer as a result of I’ll put strain on a regular basis, strolling ahead, and he’ll get misplaced finally. He’s an entire fighter, 20 wins and lots of knockouts and submissions, so I’ve to respect him. I’ve skilled exhausting on the ft and on the bottom and I’m certain I’ll get the most effective of him wherever we go.”
Bellato made a reputation for himself whereas coaching at Workforce Nogueira earlier than becoming a member of KO Squad alongside former Strikeforce champion Rafael Cavalcante and fellow prospect Jonas Bilharinho in Rio de Janeiro. On high of that, the ex-LFA gentle heavyweight titleholder traveled to america this previous September to assist UFC gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira put together for his 205-pound MMA debut in opposition to Jan Blachowicz.
“It was an incredible expertise,” Bellato stated. “I knew ‘Poatan’ already however didn’t know Glover [Teixeira], and it was unimaginable expertise to share a home with ‘Poatan’, Glover, and Plinio [Cruz]. I’ve realized rather a lot from them. That has made me extra mature.”
The UFC rookie stated he was impressed by Pereira’s power and “absurd” energy in his proper hand as a light-weight heavyweight, and under no circumstances shocked to see Pereira beat Blachowicz after which declare the vacant UFC championship with a knockout of Jiri Prochazka. If Jamahal Hill is subsequent in line for the belt, Bellato expects “Poatan” to stay on high for for much longer.
“After I put my fingers on him, and he was at 220 kilos on the time, I stated like, ‘Man, this man goes to present them hassle on this division,’” Bellato stated. “He’s going by an absurd second in his profession and has all this confidence and timing. I feel Jamahal Hill shall be a superb matchup for him. Jamahal stated he needs to face with him, that this isn’t kickboxing, however it is going to be sophisticated for Jamahal Hill if he needs to commerce with [Pereira].”
