Brazilian welterweight Carlos Leal is 1-1 below the UFC banner, however he can have a distinct reply should 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 determination 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 Combating. “And I didn’t flip down the battle figuring out 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 combating this man on that place.’
“No, I need to be a very good worker, I need 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 combating on house turf.’ It’s all in his favor, so I’ve to interrupt the financial institution.”
Leal stated he has skilled that previously, leaving a cage feeling wronged by the judges, however the truth that this one occurred below 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 stated. “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 pleased with 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 very good battle. That loss put me over greater than anything.”
Leal got here again keen after such heartbreak, demolishing Alex Morono for a violent first-round knockout in March. “The Lion” stated the mindset stays the identical for Salikhov and whoever comes after that.
“I’m on the planet’s largest promotion, and I would like to point out I’m probably the greatest on the planet,” Leal stated. “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 gap, it needs to be a much bigger beatdown than the one on Rinat.”
Leal stated Salikhov is a greater striker than Morono, far more exact together with his assaults, however received’t be capable to take care of his muay thai abilities.
“I’ve to be extra sensible after I shut the gap, particularly early within the battle, as a result of that’s when he’s extra harmful,” Leal stated. “I like to begin the battle feeling my opponent’s pace and energy. Towards Morono, when he began touchdown punches and kicks, I spotted I used to be sooner 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 similar to I did towards Morono. If I see he’s harmful, that his arms are quick and powerful, I’ll be extra cautious with my method and power him to burn gasoline early after which expose himself. However the purpose is all the time the identical: present that my hanging is on one other degree. Combat a harmful striker and knock him out. That’s the principle purpose. I do know he’s been knocked out earlier than, and I need to present I’m on a distinct 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. Nevertheless it 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 put in writing my identify in historical past as one of many biggest.”
