Brazilian welterweight Carlos Leal is 1-1 underneath the UFC banner, however he may have a special reply in case you ask him for his octagon document.
Set to face Muslim Salikhov within the preliminary portion of UFC Abu Dhabi on July 26, Leal admits he hasn’t moved on from this late-notice debut loss to Rinat Fakhretdinov. They met in October 2024, inside the identical venue he returns to this weekend, and Leal misplaced a extremely controversial choice when Hadi Mohamed Ali, Michael Bell and David Lethaby unanimously awarded Fakhretdinov the win.
“I put this strain, this weight over myself,” Leal informed MMA Preventing. “And I didn’t flip down the battle realizing it was on the identical place. ‘I’ve to go there, I’ve a historical past there.’ It ought to have been an ideal story however I used to be damage by the judges, so I’ve to go there and present the UFC I received’t be like, ‘Oh, I’m not preventing this man on that place.’
“No, I wish to be a great worker, I wish to present I’ll battle anybody in any nook of the world. I put this strain over myself. ‘I’ve to knock him out, I’ve to submit him as a result of he’s just about preventing on dwelling turf.’ It’s all in his favor, so I’ve to interrupt the financial institution.”
Leal mentioned he has skilled that previously, leaving a cage feeling wronged by the judges, however the truth that this one occurred underneath the brilliant lights of the UFC made it a much bigger deal.
“After I noticed the repercussion, it solely made me know extra that I had received the battle,” Leal mentioned. “It’s what I inform everyone. I’ve two battle and two wins within the UFC. Who disagrees with that may simply return and watch the battle. … I used to be proud of my efficiency as a result of I took the Rinat battle throughout that week. I wasn’t even coaching to battle somebody like him and nonetheless placed on a great battle. That loss put me over greater than the rest.”
Leal got here again keen after such heartbreak, demolishing Alex Morono for a violent first-round knockout in March. “The Lion” mentioned the mindset stays the identical for Salikhov and whoever comes after that.
“I’m on the planet’s largest promotion, and I want to point out I’m the most effective on the planet,” Leal mentioned. “That was my mindset after the Rinat battle. Not just for the Morono battle, but additionally this one. I’m coming with the identical mindset particularly due to the place that is, of me needing to finish this earlier than the choice. And if it goes the space, it must be a much bigger beatdown than the one on Rinat.”
Leal mentioned Salikhov is a greater striker than Morono, rather more exact along with his assaults, however received’t be capable to take care of his muay thai abilities.
“I’ve to be extra sensible once I shut the space, particularly early within the battle, as a result of that’s when he’s extra harmful,” Leal mentioned. “I like to begin the battle feeling my opponent’s velocity and energy. In opposition to Morono, when he began touchdown punches and kicks, I spotted I used to be quicker than him. I used to be seeing his motion. As my coach says, ‘He’s in gradual movement, unleash your sport now.’
“That’s how I’ll begin with Salikhov. If I see I’m a step forward of him, I’ll push the tempo identical to I did towards Morono. If I see he’s harmful, that his fingers are quick and powerful, I’ll be extra cautious with my strategy and power him to burn gas early after which expose himself. However the objective is all the time the identical: present that my putting is on one other degree. Struggle a harmful striker and knock him out. That’s the primary objective. I do know he’s been knocked out earlier than, and I wish to present I’m on a special degree.
“I’m certain the UFC will see me with different eyes [after this win],” he continued. “It’s a possibility to ask the UFC to check me towards ranked fighters as a result of I’ve all it takes to turn out to be the champion of this division. But it surely all relies upon not solely on the win, however how I win. I’ll present I’m not simply one other fighter to participate within the UFC. I’m right here to jot down my title in historical past as one of many best.”
