Ante Delija is strolling into UFC Vegas 110 with a singular mission: show that his debut efficiency towards Marcin Tybura wasn’t a fluke, however the opening chapter of one thing way more important. The Croatian heavyweight, competing within the co-main occasion towards sixth-ranked contender Waldo Cortes-Acosta, believes Saturday night time on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas represents a important juncture in his profession trajectory.
Ante Delija Units Sights on Spectacular UFC Vegas 110 Efficiency
Throughout the UFC Combat Evening 263 pre-fight press convention, Delija laid out his intentions with the readability of a person who’s waited far too lengthy to make his mark on the sport’s highest stage. When discussing what awaits him within the octagon, Delija provided this telling evaluation:
“I’m trying to make a press release on Saturday. This could possibly be a breakout second for me within the UFC. I’m able to carry the strain and present the followers what I’ve received.”
At 35 years outdated, Delija isn’t your typical UFC newcomer. He’s a seasoned heavyweight with 26 skilled victories, the 2022 PFL Heavyweight Champion, and somebody who’s confirmed his mettle towards high quality opposition throughout a number of continents for over a decade. This isn’t his first rodeo.
His UFC debut in September at UFC Paris towards Tybura left little to interpretation. Delija wanted simply over two minutes to dispatch a perennial top-10 heavyweight contender, dropping him with a pointy left uppercut and following up with a barrage that pressured the referee to wave off the competition. The efficiency earned him a direct Efficiency of the Evening bonus and, extra importantly, a spot within the UFC heavyweight rankings at quantity 9.
His arrival at Evolution Health XL roughly eighteen months in the past, the place UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall trains, represented a big turning level. Working alongside Aspinall and his father Andy, who coaches each fighters, has sharpened Delija’s total sport whereas offering him entry to elite-level coaching companions and strategists.
What makes Saturday notably attention-grabbing is the trajectory it places Delija on. Ought to he defeat Cortes-Acosta, a fighter who’s ranked quantity six, Delija would accomplish one thing remarkably uncommon: consecutive victories over top-ten ranked heavyweights in his first two UFC outings. That’s the form of resume momentum that catapults fighters into title dialog territory virtually instantly.
Cortes-Acosta, a Dominican striker with a pedigree of his personal (LFA heavyweight champion, DWCS victor), isn’t some gimme struggle designed to pad information. He’s a reputable take a look at. The person skilled at Tristar Fitness center alongside Georges St-Pierre, possesses knockout energy, and has been up shut with high quality competitors.
Throughout media day, Delija recognized two particular areas the place he believes he holds benefits over his opponent. “I do consider I’m a lot quicker on my toes, and my endurance is a lot better than his,” he defined. “I feel these two issues are crucial for this Saturday’s struggle.”
The narrative surrounding this struggle facilities partly on what it means for heavyweight title rivalry. If Delija handles enterprise Saturday as anticipated, he’s taking a look at a matchup towards somebody from the highest 5. That’s not idle hypothesis, Delija himself acknowledged precisely that when requested what comes subsequent. For context, the UFC heavyweight division doesn’t transfer notably quick, and top-five spots belong to skilled killers. Getting there in simply two UFC fights would mark Delija as genuinely totally different.
