‘Bigfoot’ Stalks the UFC Heavyweight Division 2023 – MMA Monster – Your FIGHTING supply

Like his famously elusive namesake, MarcosRogerio de Lima is lurking merely exterior the Last Stopping Championship heavyweight Prime10, capable of sneak up on a out of the blue wide-open division.

De Lima (20-8-1; 9-6 UFC), who’s about to face 9-0 rising prospectWaldoCortes-Acosta on the first card of UFC Wrestle Evening time 223 on Saturdayon the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada, spoke to Sherdog about hishistorical previous along with his future with the promotion, and shared someinsights on his technique to combating. The 37-year-old Brazilian whogoes by “Pezao” — that’s Portuguese for “Bigfoot” — is a 15-fightveteran of the Octagon, nevertheless the primary half of his UFC run wascontested at gentle heavyweight. Speaking to him in the intervening time gives thesense that he’s happier in his new weight class, and perhaps evenneeds he had made the switch sooner.

“Thankfully, I’ve a blessed career,” he said. “I’m very devotedto my work. There was a time after I’d drop to gentle heavyweight. Itwas torture. I didn’t have good fight performances. After shifting upto heavyweight, I flip into loads sooner and stronger. My conditioningis considerably higher. This was good for my nicely being, along with for mylife as a father, son, and athlete. I thank God for putting individualsin my life who help me try this. I’ve on a regular basis sought new coachingstrategies, and new strategies to evolve. I imagine that whoever seen myfirst fight throughout the UFC, my first loss, and my first win, is conscious of thatI’m a really completely totally different athlete in the intervening time. I’m in fixedevolution. I’m pleased with what I’ve accomplished to date, and with myperformances, even in losses. I’m on a regular basis inserting on good battles.I anticipate to keep up this up for pretty some time.”

About his upcoming opponent, the undefeated Cortes-Acosta, de Limahas nothing nevertheless good points to say. He maintains that his conflictwith the large Panamanian should yield good outcomes for thefollowers.

“Waldo was on the an identical card after I fought AndreiArlovski,” de Lima said, referring to his latest outing atUFC Wrestle Evening time 213 last October. “I watched his fight. We eveninteracted a bit. He seems to be like a really cool man. He’s a youngerup-and-comer. He used to play baseball. He’s on a regular basis been anathlete. He boxed, and now he’s in MMA. No matter having few MMAbouts, he’s amassed experience in boxing, and he’s on a regular basis been acompetitor. Undoubtedly, it’s going to be an necessary fight. He’s an excellentstriker with good knockouts. He controls his opponents successfully. Isuppose he matches up very successfully with me. I’m moreover extraordinarily aggressive,and I wish to maneuver forward. The followers will really benefit from our fight. Iknow I’ve the flexibleness to win this fight, with a further fullrecreation. I haven’t seen an extreme quantity of footage on him, apart from the combattowards JaredVanderaa, which he gained by decision. It was his UFC debut, soI’m optimistic he was being cautious. In opposition to me, I’ll optimistic we’ll tearone one other apart with strikes.”

De Lima is as acquainted as he cares to be with Cortes-Acosta’s talentset, nevertheless makes it clear that his priority is his private preparation,and that looking out for some kind of Achilles’ heel in a single’s opponentis a fool’s errand.

“I’m giving basically probably the most emphasis to my bodily scenario,” he said.“Each time, I’m stronger and sooner. I must be a realheavyweight who’s moreover strong, fast, with good conditioning. Iby no means face my opponents with a specific approach. I current up preparedto fight MMA. I have a look at my opponent to have an idea of what helikes to do. I don’t try to seek for holes in my opponent’s recreation. Ireally really feel that’s an necessary illusion. I’ll be capable of strike, wrestle, orhit the underside. I’m largely engaged on my bodily conditioning withcoach EvertonOliveira at American Prime Workers. He’s labored with various champs:Junior dos Santos, AmandaNunes, AdrianoMoraes, along with excessive fighters like AlexandrePantoja. I moreover apply beneath Katel Kubis and Gabriel Oliveira,who works with me on my boxing. And I’ve been working with SteveMocco, ‘Parrumpa,’ and AiltonBarbosa. They’re all an infinite help. Lastly, Marcus ‘Conan’Silveira manages my teaching schedule. I’m assured I’ll be at100% for this fight, and I’ll be scoring yet another win.”

Whereas de Lima is preoccupied in the interim with the issue inentrance of him this Saturday and his private place throughout the UFC heavyweightdivision, he spares some thought for earlier losses that additionally sting,and admits that the division is in flux due to no less than one latesthigh-profile fight. “This 12 months, I’m very focused on transferring intothe highest 15,” he said. “I imagine this fight might get me there. It’sthe place I must be. And I can suppose of some fights I’d want torevisit. I’m not loads for rematches, nevertheless I’m nonetheless bothered by mylosses to BlagoyIvanov and AlexanderRomanov,” he said, referring throughout the latter case to a razor-close decision loss last Would possibly. “I’d likethese rematches. I want to realize the very best of our weight class, and Iknow I’ve loads to contribute. After Jon Jones vs CirylGane, we now have a model new purpose on which to focus. I’m wantingahead to an necessary 12 months with some good wins.”