The best Bulgarian mixed martial artist – Blagoy Ivanov (16-2) is just a couple of days away from his second fight under the UFC banner.
This Saturday night, “Bagata” is facing the American vet Ben Rothwell (36-10) at UFC Fight Night 146 in Kansas City, US.
Ivanov, a former combat sambo world champion from 2008, sat down with BJPENN and spoke about his debut in the organization when he squared up with former champion Junior dos Santos in the main event of UFC Fight Night 133.
#UFCxFOX ¡Llegamos a la pelea estelar de la noche! Categoría de peso completo para el ex campeón Junior Dos Santos y el debutante en UFC Blagoy Ivanov ¿Quién gana? pic.twitter.com/1YEO4iR7oO
— Emiliano Cándido (@EmilianoCandido) July 15, 2018
“There was more pressure for me because it was my first fight in the UFC and the main event. I got some issues with my knee, and I almost pulled out, but I decided to fight. A couple of things happened, but now I feel much better than my first fight.”
“This is why I am in the UFC, to fight with the best guys in the world,” he said. “This is why I’m here, I want to fight with the best. He is a tough guy, tough opponent. He is one of the guys who has the most experience in the cage in heavyweight. I prepared hard and I feel great for this fight so we will see Saturday.”
“I did my camp in San Jose at AKA and I was here for four weeks. I think it worked very well training there,” Ivanov said. “I’m very confident and very ready for this fight. Then, the final two weeks I went to Vegas to train at Xtreme Couture.”
Now the 32-year-old is ready for his first win in UFC.
UFC on ESPN+ 4 – Blagoi Ivanov contre Ben Rothwell
Samedi 09 mars 2019#UFCWichitahttps://t.co/GVFfDKIpTd pic.twitter.com/MFYhQvmu3k— UFC FANS (@mmaufcfr) January 10, 2019
“I think it will be hard for him, but you never know in heavyweight. One punch can change everything,” Ivanov explained. I have some tactics, and we will see who is more prepared,” Ivanov concluded.
