KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
Mohammad Yahya is confident as the first Emirati fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) that he is ready to make the most of a second shot at redemption by winning against Kaue Fernandes when the UFC Fight Night is held at the Etihad Arena on Saturday.
The fight card is headlined by Umar Nurmagomedov taking on Corey Sandhagen with the UAE's most-loved fighter, the now retired Dagestan native Khabib Nurmagomedov in the corner of his cousin.
Tickets are sold out with the bantamweight title eliminator battle between the pair set to crown a challenger for the winner of the Sean O'Malley vs Merab Dvalishili fight in September.
The six-fight main card includes Marlon "Chito" Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo, Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa and appearances from up-and-comers Shara "Bullet" Magomedov and Joel Alvarez.
Yahya holds a 12-4 win-loss record after losing to Trevor Peek on his UFC debut in October last year.
Speaking to Aletihad on the sidelines of the media day at Yas Island, Yahya refused to get into any excuses for his defeat, and stressed that he is more in sync with the demands of the big-stage aura as he takes on Fernandes with a 8-2 career record.
"I thought I was all prepared, having waited all my lifetime for my debut but I think it became too daunting for me when I went upon the cage. I am confident of winning this time around, having put in a lot of hard work in training."
"There are just some some nights you don't really feel the way you should. Although I have fought in front of crowds, this is the biggest event in the world I had to deal with it. It [the loss to Peek] has made me hungrier and wanting to come back stronger. And this time I'm not gonna leave anything in there," Yahya said.
All of Yahya's fights have come on home turf. Like him, Fernandes is also seeking his first win in the second UFC bout of his career.
Asked if he has had hypothetical thoughts and the accompanying pressure of expectations about what would happen if he were to loss, Yahya prompty hit back, "No. I never had that thought. I am going to win, and I am going to knock his head off and kill him," he said with his usual poker face, accompanied by coach Khusan Majlimov.
"I am not going to much about my strategy, but Brazilians are usually good on the ground, I know that. But my chances are good and hopefully, I will see him on the ground," Yahya said with coach in tow after addressing the media.
Fernandes, according to experts in the news conference, is a freestyle fighter known for his aggressive starts with some of his recent victories coming in the first round as he packs off his rivals early.
There is a belief that Yahya takes his time to get going.
Yahya said. "Before my fight in the UFC [on debut], I had fought some four-five matches of five minutes and I had to pace myself. Unfortunately, I got into a habit and that's what happened in the last fight [against Peek]. Everything happened so fast, and the match finished before I could take things in. But I have had a lot of finishes in the first round and some early ones, too, in my career."
"I'm so happy I am get a second opportunity to represent my country and not gonna let this one slip," Yahya said before signing off.
SIDESTORY
The night will be headlined by a pivotal clash in the bantamweight division as American Cory Sandhagen takes on undefeated Russian Umar Nurmagomedov.
Both fighters will be familiar to the Abu Dhabi fans having fought in the Emirate previously.
The No.2 ranked Sandhagen has fought on Yas Island twice – picking up bonuses on both occasions – firstly a performance of the night in defeating Marlon Moraes in 2020, followed up with a fight of the night for his battle with Petr Yan for the interim bantamweight title a year later.
Nurmagomedov (17-0), currently ranked No.10 in the division, made his UFC debut in Abu Dhabi, securing a performance of the night bonus in stopping Sergey Morozov.
He has gone on to win four further fights and is considered one of the rising stars in the 61-kilogramme class.