Dropping streaks carry further stress over the shoulders of a MMA fighter, and Elves Brener doesn’t need his mom to undergo one other heartbreak this weekend when he faces Esteban Ribovics.
When the thrilling lightweights collide in the primary card of UFC Vegas 108 on Aug. 2 seeking to get again on observe, Brener’s motivation to win after a pair of defeats to Myktybek Orolbai and Joel Alvarez in 2024 will likely be his mom’s happiness.
“Many individuals find yourself shedding starvation and willpower after some losses, they are saying their heads are tousled,” Brener instructed MMA Preventing. “I’ll let you know what, I’m nonetheless completely happy the identical method had I received — even when my mother cries. I made her a promise this time. My mom cried twice in a row, and now she received’t cry. My mom received’t cry a 3rd time in a row, it’s the opposite mom that may cry.”
The Chute Boxe expertise received three straight in 2023, his first 12 months competing below the UFC banner, with a pair of bonuses for knockouts over Guram Kutateladze and Kaynan Kruschewsky. Regardless of the present skid, he nonetheless sees a shiny future forward within the light-weight division.
“I work with what I like,” Brener mentioned. “I practice on daily basis to be within the UFC and have this expertise. I’m top-15 materials, top-10 materials, and in the future top-5 materials, you already know? My head stays the identical, and I can clearly see the long run forward. [Those losses] have been only a second.”
Brener was briefly linked to a battle with Daniel Zellhuber in Mexico Metropolis in March, however mentioned he was by no means formally provided till solely three weeks previous to the date, so he was pressured to say no. Now booked in opposition to Ribovics with a correct six-week coaching camp in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he sees it as a extra favorable match-up.
“I’ve a tougher time preventing taller opponents however to let you know the reality, I see Ribovics being simpler than Zellhuber,” Brener mentioned. “Zellhuber had longer attain, good arm-triangle chokes, lengthy legs. Preventing Ribovics is extra easy although he’s aggressive, robust, powerful and explosive, and has nice cardio. However we’ll brawl in there, brother [laughs].”
Ribovics has by no means been completed earlier than in MMA, and Brener mentioned that’s as a result of “he was by no means punched by a hand like mine.”
“He’ll are available alert as a result of when my hand connects persons are shut off, they fall stiff,” Brener mentioned. “It’s going to be an amazing battle. I need to battle MMA with him. I’m able to battle three rounds. If he has good cardio, I’ve extra. If he has good boxing, I’m even higher. If he has good kicks, I’m even higher. I’m excited as a result of he’s harmful, and I like preventing those who make me really feel alert. Brother, we’ll kill one another in there. We’ll brawl and placed on a present for the followers. I’m going there to work, and I like my job.”
