Chidi Njokuani has gone 2-0 within the UFC since slicing right down to welterweight, however didn’t beat the dimensions for his UFC Vegas 104 conflict with Elizeu Zaleski this Saturday at UFC APEX. “Capoeira” anticipated that, and feels it’s a bonus to have his opponent deplete himself days earlier than a cagefight.
“I believe he had a tough time making 170, so it’s a bonus for me,” Zaleski instructed MMA Preventing previous to Njokuani’s weight miss. “He in all probability already had a tough time slicing weight for middleweight, and now he’s slicing much more for welterweight, so it’s lots. It takes time to adapt.”
Njokuani missed weight as soon as as a middleweight, coming in nearly 5 kilos over the restrict for his combat with ex-Bellator champion Rafael Carvalho in 2019. His weight was on level for his subsequent seven bouts earlier than dropping to welterweight, and he handed the take a look at forward of UFC wins over Rhys McKee and Jared Gooden. Nonetheless, this time he got here in 1.25 kilos over over the restrict.
“Welterweight is totally totally different from middleweight,” stated Zaleski, who holds a knockout win over Sean Strickland at 170 kilos. “Fighters are slower and heavier at middleweight, so it’s totally different. Welterweight requires extra power and velocity, and it takes time to adapt to it or you find yourself gassing. I see myself in an excellent place within the division, so let’s see how effectively he does.”
Zaleski knocked out Zach Scroggin in simply 75 seconds in his most up-to-date octagon look to bounce again from a majority draw with Rinat Fakhretdinov and a call loss to Randy Brown. “Capoeira” gained two in a row previous to that, together with a one-sided beatdown over Benoit Saint Denis, and goals for an additional stoppage in Las Vegas.
“I’m at all times tremendous excited to brawl and it’s no totally different this time,” Zaleski stated. “I’m extra good and extra technical this time. [Njokuani] is an skilled opponent who has fought for main promotions earlier than, and he’s on an excellent run within the UFC. He’s good, he’s nice, and it is going to be a pleasure to brawl with him. I see some openings on the get up and we would see a knockout right here.”
