UFC 279: Ion Cutelaba is excited to fight in front of fans again ‘People is my energy’ (Video)
Ion Cutelaba will fight in front of a live crowd this weekend for the first time in over two years.
In what fans expect to be a highly explosive fight, a light-heavyweight matchup between Johnny Walker and Ion Cutelaba will kick off the main card of UFC 279 this Saturday. Both Walker and Cutelaba will be looking to turn things around after a recent stretch of losses for both men.
MMA fans and fighters across the world are well aware of the “Nate Diaz effect”, meaning that a fight week featuring Diaz will bring an extra layer of enthusiasm and fan participation. And while both Cutelaba and Walker have fought several times since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Saturday night marks the first time in nearly two years that either fighter will be performing in front of a live crowd. Cutelaba touched on this during his UFC 279 media scrum on Wednesday.
“I missed the fights, I missed the people, I missed the energy. So I’m very, very happy to be back…People is my energy,” said Cutelaba through a translator
Ion Cutelaba predicts a ‘chaotic and explosive’ fight with Johnny Walker
Despite each fighter having recent bouts that have gone to a decision, both Cutelaba and Walker generally have a finish-or-be finished tendency in their fight. Three of Cutelaba’s last four wins have come by way of KO/TKO. Walker’s last four wins have all come via KO/TKO, often doing so in spectacular fashion.
“Just look at me and look at Johnny. We are both very chaotic and explosive, so it’s definitely going to be a show, so just hang on. Saturday is going to be crazy,” said Cutelaba.
“I know that he’s a very strong fighter, but I am stronger, so I’m going to remove him…I’m stronger. I’m the Hulk. I’m just going to walk through him.”
Whether that is true remains to be seen. However, if Cutelaba is indeed fueled by the energy of the fans, then he should be feeling better than ever heading into Saturday’s contest. Expect fireworks this weekend, fight fans.
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