Punahele ‘Puna’ Soriano, at present competing within the Middleweight division of the UFC is about to tackle Roman Kopylov at UFC Battle Evening.
The Blended Martial Arts Skilled spoke solely with News18 forward of his combat, opening up about his prime 5 MMA fighters, his inspirations within the sport, and moving into the highest rankings of the UFC roster.
Listed here are excerpts from the interplay:
What are your plans for 2023 and what can your followers look out for this 12 months?
I’m attempting to remain wholesome and keep as lively as doable. I wish to combat three to 4 fights this 12 months, and I’m attempting to place everybody away.
What impressed you to be an MMA Fighter?
Simply one thing I’ve at all times preferred, I’ve at all times wished as a child. I’ve at all times wished to be a fighter, I suppose I by no means knew it was going to be MMA. I simply knew I wished to be a fighter for some motive, after which, MMA got here alongside after faculty, and I’ve by no means left its facet.
How Assured are you heading into this combat in opposition to Roman Kopylov?
Yeah, I really feel extraordinarily assured, I’m able to go. I’m able to put myself ahead and mark him down, combat him as exhausting as I can and let the chips fall the place they could. That’s competitors, you understand, you’ll be able to’t get the outcomes you at all times need, however I’m gonna certain as hell attempt my hardest. Go on the market and, and do my finest.
That is your first combat since July final 12 months, contemplating that hole, how has coaching camp been to date?
Yeah, coaching camp’s a tricky man and inside the previous few years, it’s simply been getting harder and harder at Xtreme. We’ve been getting an increasing number of robust guys so, camps have truthfully been method more durable than the fights. Simply As a result of like, you go on weeks and weeks of form of getting beat up, you’re not the hammer every single day at Xtreme, there’s going to be one or two days whenever you’re a nail. So, that’s robust but it surely provides you a whole lot of confidence going into the combat.
To date in your profession, we’ve seen you touchdown some knockout punches, some highly effective takedowns, and a few killer floor sport. Is there something about your sport that you just wish to enhance?
Oh for certain. I’m seeking to enhance every single day, within camp, outdoors of camp. I’m trying so as to add extra to my repertoire. I’m attempting so as to add extra offensive, submissions, new strikes, new setups, you understand, something that’ll get me somewhat bit higher. I’m attempting to do this every single day.
In your final combat in opposition to Dulcha, postmatch you advised DC that you just simply wished to get your arms on his face, and it landed. What technique do you’ve gotten deliberate for this combat in opposition to Roman?
Yeah, my plans are at all times the identical. I’m seeking to combat everybody as exhausting as I can. I feel whenever you do that you just turn out to be the man nobody needs to combat. Even when I didn’t have any expertise and I used to be going on the market, simply combating as exhausting as I can, I feel I might be a problem for some individuals, however including expertise and including the work I put in by means of years and years, I feel I’m a tricky combat and I’m going on the market to win.
Presently, you’re 9-2 in your MMA profession, do you assume retaining this run going will aid you break into the highest 25?
I certain hope so, however I don’t actually look that far forward. I simply take it one combat at a time. If I can preserve placing guys away, this combat, the subsequent combat, and the subsequent combat, I feel I’ll be precisely the place I need to be, so far as the rankings. And, yeah, I simply really feel like after I win, there’s no query about it.
High 5 MMA Fighters Of All Time?
Of all time, that’s robust. Let’s see. That is in no order, simply 5, I’d should throw BJ (Penn) in there. For certain Khabib (Nurmagomedov), GSP (George St-Pierre), Jon Jones. And this may be form of shocking as a result of he simply misplaced however I feel he’ll get it again as quickly as he begins combating, I feel (Kamaru) Usman was on a hell of a run. I feel he’s proper up there too.
Watch the LIVE protection of UFC Battle Evening – Imavov vs Gastelum on Sony Sports activities Ten 2 (English), Sony Sports activities Ten 3 (Hindi) & Sony Sports activities Ten 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels at 5:30 am IST on fifteenth January 2023.
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