Marco Tulio desires to safe a end towards Matthieu Duclos at Tuesday’s Contender Collection occasion to make sure he’s leaving the UFC APEX with a deal this time round.
The Chute Boxe middleweight, who turns 30 years outdated on Friday, first competed on Contender Collection in August 2023 towards Yousri Belgaroui, a person with previous kickboxing bouts towards the likes of Alex Pereira and Israel Adesanya. Tulio finally received in an upset, nevertheless his choice victory wasn’t sufficient to persuade White to supply a UFC contract.
“I knew I had received the combat there,” Tulio advised MMA Preventing. “And the contract, given who I had fought, I anticipated to be provided as nicely. I fought somebody that everyone thought must be within the UFC already. If the choice went the opposite means, I knew he could be in.
“‘Poatan’ was there, Glover Teixeira was there [to corner him], so there was quite a lot of buzz round him. The UFC and Dana White have been posting about him. For many individuals, I used to be simply seen a punching bag there, somebody put there to lose [to Belgaroui]. I went there to point out who I used to be, to point out my expertise and potential, and I left with my palms raised.”
Nonetheless, Tulio’s efficiency boosted his win streak to 6 straight. He then returned to LFA in January and knocked out Cemey dos Santos to earn one other Contender Collection shot.
“I used to be tremendous relaxed for that [Belgaroui] combat,” Tulio mentioned. “I used to be like, ‘I’ll go for it. He’s good, however I practice actually onerous too.’ I knew he had by no means fought anybody like me. I went for it, respecting his historical past, however with a superb technique, and was capable of finding some holes in his recreation.”
Tulio mentioned he had “the worst pre-fight month in my life” when he confronted Belgaroui, however now returns higher ready to combat Duclos at Tuesday’s card in Las Vegas.
“He’s powerful, but it surely’s entire totally different story,” Tulio mentioned. “He’s a preferred YouTuber, you understand? It’s a distinct viewers however he’s very well-known, and he’s good. I’m anticipating a troublesome combat. I’m not overlooking him solely as a result of I fought a adorned kickboxer like Yousri earlier than. However I’m going for the knockout now. A knockout or a submission.”
