Fighters, like anyone, can have an off night.
And that’s exactly how Gunnar Nelson describes his performance against Demian Maia at UFC 194.
It was a bout that had left grappling fans salivating at the prospect of seeing two of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the welterweight division go at it on the mat.
Maia, a fourth degree black belt, came out on top in a unanimous decision victory over ‘Gunni’ but the Icelandic 170 lber has written that off as a bad day at the office.
“I would say that a rematch would go differently,” Nelson said.
“I’d definitely like another shot at Demian but I’m not the type of fighter who calls people out. I can make it known that I want to fight him again but it would be out of place to call him out so soon after what happened in December.
“First comes my fight on Sunday and, as always, I’m going out to finish.”
BREAKING! Gunnar Nelson 🇮🇸 vs. Albert Tumenov 🇷🇺 announced for #UFCRotterdam! Tickets: https://t.co/ygOVwkatM9 pic.twitter.com/aypAGYpp0v
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) March 1, 2016
Nelson meets Albert Tumenov on the main card of UFC’s inaugural event in Rotterdam this weekend and will be looking to break the five fight win streak of the dangerous striker.
A defeat for Nelson would be his third in his last four fights but the 27-year-old does not feel any extra pressure going into Sunday night.
“I wouldn’t say there’s any added pressure to win because there’s always a lot of pressure,” Nelson continued.
“Every fight is the most important fight of your life but we’ve definitely made some changes since December.
“We’re always making alterations in the training, finding better ways to move and improve.
“A win over Tumenov should shoot me back up the rankings so that’s all that I’m focused on right now – winning.”
Nelson has been alongside SBG teammate and sparring partner Conor McGregor for the majority of the Dubliner’s stand-off with the UFC and ‘Gunni’ has admitted that he wouldn’t be able to take on the media obligations and promotional expectations that surround ‘The Notorious’.
“Promoting that much would not be my thing,” Nelson said.
“I think in Conor’s case, he felt like it was coming down on his training so it was too much.
“He needed more time to focus on improving and isolate himself.
“I really think it was a mature decision because what he needs to do is win fights and he felt the emphasis was too much on the media side of things.
“I am the way I am and he is the way he is. They want to have him talking as much as possible and I’ve never been too much for the attention.”
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