Santiago Ponzinibbio is joyful to be a part of UFC’s first card of 2025 as a result of it opens the door for probably competing 4 instances on this calendar yr, however nonetheless mad that he’s 1-4 in his previous 5 contained in the octagon.
Ponzinibbio, who as soon as noticed himself getting into talks for a shot on the welterweight gold for successful seven in a row between 2015 and 2018, feels he was wronged by the judges in a few of his most up-to-date bouts. The Argentine’s sole victory since 2021 was a bonus-winning knockout over Alex Morono, a end result sandwiched between three break up choice defeats and one stoppage.
“I’ve to make use of this [anger] to my benefit,” Ponzinibbio advised MMA Combating forward of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 101 co-main occasion conflict with Carlston Harris. “It has occurred twice in my profession, two mistaken selections towards Michel Pereira and Muslim Salikhov. I believe I gained these two. It pisses me off that I misplaced three break up selections, fights I’m assured I gained. It pisses me off that that occurred, however I take advantage of that as fireplace. Fireplace to focus in coaching and regulate and go for the following one. I can’t complain or cry about it, I’ve to maneuver ahead.”
Ponzinibbio desires a busy yr in 2025, and hopes for a clear victory this weekend on the UFC APEX to arrange a return at UFC 314, a pay-per-view card that’s anticipated to go down April 5 in Miami. If the American Prime Staff fighter is ready to avenge a type of shut losses close to his Florida residence, even higher.
“I’d be all the way down to rematch any fighter that sadly I wasn’t in a position to win,” Ponzinibbio mentioned. “We all know it’s laborious to get rematches within the UFC, it’s not that straightforward, however let’s see what the plans are for the corporate in 2025. What I actually need for this yr is to get a superb win Saturday, a clear victory, and keep energetic. I need to struggle three [in 2025] — or 4 instances, since I’m preventing on the primary card. That’s the objective now.”
Harris, his opponent at UFC Vegas 101, can also be seeking to get again on monitor within the UFC. Primarily based in Brazil, “Moçambique” scored finishes in three of his 4 UFC wins, however misplaced by knockout to Khaos Williams in his most up-to-date look. Harris’ different UFC defeat got here by the fingers of future welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.
“He’s a whole man, he’s very lengthy and has good arm-triangle chokes, so he’s positively harmful,” Ponzinibbio mentioned. “I do know he gained’t be simply beat, however I’m centered on my sport. I do know I’ve energy to knock him out and I’ve sport on the bottom to beat him, too. I’m very skilled, I’ve been engaged on my wrestling for a very long time. I’m able to work in all areas, however I imagine I’ll knock him out.”
Whatever the technique, Ponzinibbio mentioned he’ll do all the things in his energy to verify it doesn’t go the gap to keep away from extra heartbreaks.
“We watched my final fights, particularly the final one, and talked to the crew to see what we are able to do to be extra clear, to get the knockout, to verify it doesn’t occur once more,” Ponzinibbio mentioned. “My total camp was based mostly on that. I’m proud of the preparation I had and I’m able to safe a clear victory and finish this earlier than the choice, to get a knockout — or if I can’t get the knockout, to be clear and dominant.”
