In the opening fight of the UFC Kansas main card, the Ultimate treats fans to a classic duel between Sambô and Jiu-Jitsu. The Brazilian veteran, Andre Muniz, comes face to face with the Russian promise, Ikram Aliskerov. Despite the hype surrounding the Dagestani, Sergipano sees the duel in a positive light.
In an exclusive interview with SUPER LUTAS, Andre Muniz highlighted that the UFC values athletes according to their commercial appeal, whether by attracting audiences or financial returns from investors. The Brazilian relates the organization's support to Ikram Aliskerov to investment coming from Middle Eastern countries. Despite this, Sergipano sees this movement as an opportunity for himself, and if he wins, he will be closer to the ranking.
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“Man, each athlete has a value for the organization. We have to understand the market. Some bring more views, others generate more financial return. These Russian, Muslim, Middle Eastern people now have big investors. Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Qatar. These countries in the oil hub invest a lot in the events. So it’s natural that there are great athletes from that region. I see this as an opportunity. I’m coming off a victory, winning Ikram, and I’m certainly very close to the ranking. So I see it as a chance to grow even more.” He said. Andre Muniz.
Sergipano said he doesn't mind being considered an underdog against Ikram and believes the pressure is on his opponent, who is coming off a defeat. The Brazilian trusts in his own experience to exploit possible mistakes by the Russian and secure another victory towards the top of the division.
“For me, it’s always good. I believe that the pressure is all on his side. He’s coming off a loss, right? So he’s the one who needs to show his worth. I’ve fought with more experienced athletes, more experienced than him. He’s still testing himself within the organization. I believe that this pressure could make him make mistakes, and I can take advantage of this moment to improve my game, get my second win in a row and get back to the top of the division,” said Sergipano.
André highlighted that, although Ikram is a complete fighter, he believes he has a favorable technical fit. He pointed out his striking, grappling, distance control and the fact that he is left-handed — something that has already caused difficulties for the Russian — as factors that could give him an advantage and pave the way for a victory at UFC Kansas.
“The sambo guys are very well-rounded. They have good striking, good grappling… He’s a well-rounded guy, but I believe I am too. I take people down well, I have good ground skills, solid striking, and I have the distance. In a fight he had against a southpaw, he had some difficulty — and I’m left-handed. That could cause problems for him again. I believe my movement and the cage experience I already have can help me surprise and show something different. And that will give me the opportunity to come away with a big win on the 26th,” concluded the Jiu-Jitsu black belt.
André Muniz explains how he overcame his bad phase in the UFC
Midfield highlight, André Sergipano represents Brazil at UFC Kansas. Photo: Reproduction/UFC
Signed through the Contender Series, Sergipano arrived at the UFC with a five-fight winning streak before suffering two consecutive losses. When reflecting on the ups and downs of his career, the Brazilian highlights that triumphs and setbacks are part of the journey.
“I believe that good and bad moments will always exist in the careers of great athletes. You have to know how to deal with the journey and understand that victory and defeat go hand in hand — it’s just a matter of making a mistake. I was doing very well in the organization, with a very good sequence of victories against big names, and perhaps I accepted a fight at a time when I should have waited,” he said. Andre Muniz.
Sergipano said that, after two defeats, he focused on returning to his origins in jiu-jitsu to regain his confidence. Against Jun Yong Park, used a safe strategy, betting on his grappling, which led him to victory and marked his return to the path of good results.
“So I was in a really tough spot, coming off two losses in the organization. They put in a guy who was on a four-game winning streak — Jun Yong Park, a Korean. So I tried to do what I always did: a safe fight, grappling, taking him down, using my jiu-jitsu. I knew that if I could use my potential and my skills there, I could come out victorious. And that's what I did. Thank God, I'm back on the winning path”, concluded the Sergipe native.
Sergipano claims to be fully focused on Ikram Aliskerov
André Sergipano faces Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Kansas. Photo: Reproduction/UFC
Before thinking about the next steps, Andre Muniz stated that he is fully focused on the fight against Ikram and that, at the moment, he and his team prefer to focus on the present.
“Man, to be honest with you, we work thinking about the present. So the whole team is very focused on this fight against Ikram, which is a very important fight for my career. So we’re not thinking about the next step, we’re thinking about the 26th. After the fight, we’ll sit down and imagine what the next step will be,” said the TFT representative.
Andre Muniz faces Ikram Aliskerov at UFC Kansas, scheduled for next Saturday (26)
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