Kaue Fernandes returns to the octagon Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi to face Mohammad Yahya and obtain redemption after struggling a break up resolution loss to Marc Diakiese at UFC 301 in his native Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Fernandes is switching from home-field benefit to enemy territory in his second UFC look, however is focusing extra on the issues he has to do contained in the cage relatively any strain introduced from the stands, both with cheers or boos.
“I feel I had a superb debut,” Fernandes instructed MMA Preventing. “I made errors, however I feel I received the battle. There was just one aggressor in that battle, and I used to be the aggressor. His solely good second within the battle was to stall. He’s a wonderful fighter however he didn’t need to battle me, and so they gave him the win regardless that he was virtually knocked out and submitted with an armbar.”
Just one choose scored the bout in Fernandes’ favor, giving him a 29-28 scorecard with benefits in rounds one and two, nevertheless the opposite two judges disagreed.
Fernandes stated he discovered classes from that battle, primarily to deal with enhancing his wrestling and conditioning.
“It’s lots of strain to debut within the UFC and I anticipated to really feel very nervous, however I feel I did nicely. I wasn’t intimidated,” stated Fernandes, whose opponent had a 7-7 UFC document going into that bout. “Many individuals choke below these circumstances and I’ve proven I’ll carry out and provides my all in opposition to whoever, so that offers me confidence going ahead.”
Diakiese accomplished his UFC contract that night time and selected to not re-sign with the promotion, inking a cope with PFL as a substitute.
Fernandes doubles down on his opinion that Diakiese ought to’ve left on a three-fight dropping skid — following prior defeats to Michael Johnson and Joel Alvarez — relatively than a win.
“I can’t cry over spilled milk,” Fernandes stated. “I’ve rewatched that battle 1,000 occasions and I feel he received the third spherical, however you possibly can’t give him rounds one and two.”
“UFC naturally renews its roster and so they wouldn’t re-sign him with out a wonderful efficiency, and he received in extremely contested style,” he continued. “The battle was thrilling till he made it boring. I’d relatively get beat up and bloody and lose than [that]. … I left with a clear face and he went straight to the hospital. Who received the battle? He realized within the first spherical he couldn’t stand and commerce with me. I may have carried out extra. I’ve to get out of these conditions as a result of I would face that once more, but it surely’s laborious to battle somebody who simply doesn’t need to get completed.”
Yahya, a former light-weight champion in his native United Arab Emirates, can be trying to rebound from a call defeat in his UFC debut after dropping to Trevor Peek at UFC 294.
Fernandes vows to do something wanted to emerge victorious for the primary time contained in the octagon.
“I feel Mohammad may come to grapple after seeing that opening in my final battle, or he may do his factor and stand and commerce,” Fernandes stated. “Or perhaps I can grapple him? Profitable is what issues. If I’ve to grapple to beat him, so be it. I don’t rule something out on this battle. I’m very highly effective within the first spherical, and if it lands, he’ll really feel it. That’s the proper state of affairs, however I’m in no rush. I’m able to go three rounds too.”
