Esteban Ribovics is readying himself for a significant impact in his impending UFC confrontation, with the stage all set for the showdown. This Argentine contestant is preparing to square up against his fellow up-and-comer, Daniel Zellhuber, in the much-anticipated UFC 306 main card. The event is slated to commence this Saturday at Sphere in the heart of Las Vegas and highlights the Mexican Independence weekend celebrations.
The event is of colossal relevance and Ribovics is keen on causing a stir in Zellhuber’s plans, who carries Mexico’s hopes in his fists. Speaking in Spanish to MMA Junkie, Ribovics revealed his staunch fighting spirit. ‘I anticipate a violent encounter,’ he said, ‘It’s a given that I’ll take some hits, but rest assured, he will be on the receiving end too. In my mind, he’s going to hit the canvas at some point. It’s a conviction I harbor. It’s what my gut tells me, and in my perspective, he’s definitely going down at some point.’
For Ribovics, he has an opportunity to string together a trio of victories if he can conquer Zellhuber during the UFC Noche. He expresses doubt, though, that triumph over Zellhuber will hike him up into the UFC lightweight rankings; it would, however, undeniably mark a significant stride in his professional journey.
Ribovics shared his aspiration stating, ‘I aim to find my name among the ranks. God willing, I might perchance place myself within the rankings by the terminal portion of the coming year. So, indeed, I envision that a win of this magnitude, and if I can manage a particularly stunning victory, as I foresee, I believe this could significantly accelerate my progression towards the top 15.’
As for his prospective role of the crusher in the UFC 306 spectacle, Ribovics looks at it as a valuable opportunity. He feels untouched by the Mexican strongholds in the event and in fact, perceives it as motivating. ‘Pressure is not a sensation that I am grappling with, yet I acknowledge there is a plethora of Mexican-centric happenings in the city this weekend, and the evidence is all around in form of music artist posters and other such events,’ commented Ribovics.
He went on to say, ‘There is no doubt that Las Vegas will be wearing a distinctively Mexican flavor this week. Yet, rather than feeling overwhelmed, I quite relish the role of being perceived as the antagonist. This feeling ignites a fire in me, and I’ve always favored competition when under the visiting banner, as it sparks up the devil in me. I couldn’t be happier.’