If Damon Jackson falls out of his battle in opposition to Chepe Mariscal on Saturday, Mariscal desires to shoot his lengthy, lengthy, lengthy shot.
If Jackson can’t go, and featherweight champion Ilia Topuria is within the temper to journey to Vegas to save lots of Mariscal’s spot on UFC on ESPN 61 with a shotgun title battle, effectively, Mariscal would simply be obliged to say sure.
That’s a reasonably absurd method of claiming Mariscal, like most fighters, is assured in what he brings to the desk – to the purpose he thinks he’s prepared for a shot on the champ instantly.
“I’d problem him now if I may,” Mariscal informed MMA Junkie Radio. “If Damon Jackson falls out and Ilia Topuria jumps in, f*ck it – I’m down. These are guys that I have a look at on a regular basis. It was (Alexander) Volkanovski on the time, and I used to be watching movie, how one can beat him. Even at light-weight, I used to be like, ‘Man, what if I win the belt at featherweight and I battle (for a title) at light-weight?’ I like taking part in these type of issues (in my thoughts). I simply love the battle recreation.”
Mariscal (16-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) may not be in true sniffing distance but of a shot at Topuria’s belt. However he’s off to a reasonably good begin on the way in which to that purpose, and a win over a longtime UFC fighter like Damon Jackson (23-6-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC) on the principle card would buoy his resume.
The Colorado-based 31-year-old is coming off his third UFC win – a Struggle of the Evening bonus-snagging cut up determination over Morgan Charriere in early April. He was purported to battle Dan Ige in July, however Ige took that immediately well-known UFC 303 same-day battle in opposition to Diego Lopes and left Mariscal on the proverbial altar.
However in stepped Jackson, and Mariscal likes the problem as a result of it retains him from having a delay in these title aspirations.
“If you happen to’re not in it to be a champion, then I don’t know why you’re on this enterprise. I’m in it to turn out to be a UFC champion,” he mentioned. “I’ve mentioned sure to all people, even Dan Ige. I mentioned sure to anyone (who wanted a battle), however I acquired numerous no (responses). It’s arduous to actually push it and attempt to get to that belt when guys are saying no.
“I used to be glad that Damon Jackson mentioned sure as a result of he’s a man on that path. That man’s clearly gained some large fights. He’s placed on some nice performances. He has a pleasant report. He’s a vet. He’s a man who type of went by means of this method of ‘He must be LFA champ,’ ‘He must be this,’ ‘He must be that,’ after which go to the UFC. I fought all of the gladiators exterior of the UFC earlier than they went within the UFC. We had totally different routes, however now we’re right here.”
Apart from having the boldness to say he’d tackle the champion now if he may, Mariscal mentioned he tries to remain considerably grounded in actuality about title speak.
In any case, he’s acquired Jackson looming on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday (ESPN/ESPN+), and taking his eyes off the subsequent step within the course of may trigger a pace bump that will be arduous to recuperate from.
“I may say, ‘Yeah, in 5 years, I’ll be UFC champ,’ however I’ve acquired to fret concerning the subsequent day,” Mariscal mentioned. “I have a look at it as simply carry on staying on the grind till I clearly get to the highest 10, after which make somewhat extra noise and hopefully get a title battle.”
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