In 2022, Argentina beat France in an epic soccer match to win the FIFA World Cup simply eight days after Santiago Ponzinibbio knocked out Alex Morono at UFC 282.
Now Argentina’s hottest MMA fighter desires to maintain the colab happening Saturday.
Ponzinibbio faces Muslim Salikhov within the co-main occasion of UFC Denver simply at some point earlier than Argentina performs Colombia for the Copa America trophy, and the veteran UFC welterweight has a plan in thoughts.
“Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go, Argentina! We are going to win,” Ponzinibbio chanted throughout an interview with MMA Combating. “Final time, I stated I’d win by knockout and we’d turn into world champions, and that’s the way it went.”
Ponzinibbio had tickets for the World Cup remaining in Qatar in December 2022 however couldn’t journey as a result of work-related obligations, however “received’t miss the match this time.”
Ponzinibbio completed his camp in excessive altitude to acclimate for Denver, and stated his non permanent neighbors didn’t like his loud reactions to Argentina matches throughout Copa America. At one level, he stated somebody minimize the facility of his condo so he couldn’t watch the match.
This time, nevertheless, Ponzinibbio desires to be on location in Miami to witness historical past.
“I’ll win by knockout after which I’ll catch the primary flight Sunday morning to observe the ultimate,” Ponzinibbio stated. “Argentina will win the Copa America, little doubt about it. I’m very assured. Sunday morning, after the victory, I’ll catch a flight to see Argentina win Copa America.”
Ponzinibbio and Salikhov each enter the octagon seeking to bounce again from knockout defeats, and Ponzinibbio guarantees the combat won’t go the gap.
“I all the time go for the end however all the time put together to combat 15 or 25 minutes if wanted be,” Ponzinibbio stated. “I don’t suppose the combat will final that lengthy, however the knockout is a consequence. I’m prepared for a 15-minute battle, however there’s an excellent likelihood it ends early.”
The welterweight duo was first paired to satisfy in January 2021 however Salikhov withdrew as a result of ongoing COVID-19 signs. Li Jingliang stepped in as a alternative and ended Ponzinibbio’s seven-fight successful streak.
The American High Group fighter received simply two of his subsequent 5 bouts, however feels rejuvenated now.
“I went by a roller-coaster [since then], well being issues and a number of other setbacks that wouldn’t let me carry out the way in which I used to be throughout that seven-fight successful streak” Ponzinibbio stated. “However I used to be in a position to change lots of issues. You’ll see that Santiago Ponzinibbio on this combat. We managed to make a number of adjustments, bodily and strategically, to cope with the problems that had been stopping me from performing that approach. I really feel nice, and I really feel we’ll see a renovated model of Santiago Ponzinibbio that may remind you of that one from the successful streak.”
“I consider I’ll knock him out,” he continued. “I’ve a ton of confidence within the energy of my fingers. I wasn’t in a position to carry out properly in a few of my earlier fights for a lot of totally different causes. After I carry out properly, I can knock anybody out. I’ve a ton of energy in my fingers and I actually do consider I’ll finish this combat by knockout.”