UFC welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio knows that he lost some of the best years of his career to injury. He did not compete from 2018 to 2021, and is simply making the best of the time he has left in the Octagon. Ahead of UFC 282, Ponzinibbio’s original opponent, Robbie Lawler, pulled out, leaving Ponzinibbio to face Alex Morono instead. On Trocação Franca, Ponzinibbio declared that his performance this weekend will prove that he is “ready to fight the best”.
“I think that a win over Morono will be more important [than beating Lawler]. Maybe not name-wise, but for this moment. Lawler wasn’t on a good moment. Former champion, but he lost his last fight. Morono will mean more for the rankings than Lawler because he won his last four and is very competitive. A good win over him will prove I’m ready to fight the best.
Ponzinibbio: UFC 282 Will “Prove I’m Ready to Fight the Best”
He’s a great challenge. I didn’t have the time to prepare for him but I have what it takes to beat him. Sometimes things don’t happen the perfect way in life but we can make them perfect. When I enter the octagon and beat him and have my hands raised, everything will happen for the better.”
Should he emerge victorious at UFC 282, Ponzinibbio has a fair idea of what he wants next. Ponzinibbio plans on fighting a ranked opponent with a famous name, working his way up to a title shot the old-fashioned way.
“I have other goals now. My goal is to get back to the top-10 and face the best and have my shot at the title. I was one fight away from the world title when I got ill and then things got stuck. I came back with a loss, a punch early in the fight, an accident, and then I won a good fight with Baeza, but the last two were split decisions to two very tough fighters. I think I won both fights, and so do a lot of people. If I had won those two fights I would be 10 in my last 11 and could be talking about the belt now.
I’m focused on going back to the winning track now and show I can beat a guy that’s on a rise, so I can get a big-name fight next and have my shot at the world title.”
Will Santiago Ponzinibbio prove himself at UFC 282? Let us know in the comments.
