Fabio Maldonado lists ideal opponents for next UFC fight

Light heavyweight brawler Fabio Maldonado wants to get back on track, and he’s willing to fight anyone in the top 15 in his next UFC fight.

The Brazilian fighter, who lost via decision to former champion Quinton Jackson at UFC 184 in April, has tweaked a few things in his training regime following his last bout, but the main thing he’s changed is the mental aspect.

“My head made me lose that fight,” Maldonado told MMAFighting.com. “I didn’t take risks early in the fight because ‘Rampage’ has heavy hands and can knock anyone out with a punch, but I should have come back stronger in the second round, but didn’t. I think it was a close fight, but he really won the first and third rounds.”

Ranked at No. 13 in the 205-pound division, Maldonado listed who he would like to face next in the UFC, and that includes pretty much everyone in the top 15.

“There are a lot of fighters I would like to fight, guys that would put on great fights against me,” he said. “I know I’m not at their level right now, but (Alexander) Gustafsson, Jimi Manuwa, Ovince Saint Preux, Anthony Johnson… I know Johnson is at the top of the ranking, but I would love to fight him.

“Tom Lawlor, who just knocked out Gian Villante, would also be a great fight for fans. This Polish fighter, Jan Blachowicz, is a good fighter too. Or maybe Ilir Latifi. It’s always a tough fight when you’re facing an opponent in the Top 15. Give me six weeks and I’m ready to fight.”

Among those fighters, St. Preux and Latifi are the only ones not currently booked. OSP recently lost to Glover Teixeira via submission in the main event of UFC Fight Night 73, while Latifi comes off a 56-second win over Hans Stringer weeks before at UFC Fight Night 72.

Maldonado hopes to fight in October, but would gladly welcome a chance to be part of the upcoming Fight Night card in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Nov. 7.

“I would love to fight in Sao Paulo. If they give me a fight in October would be even better, but Nov. 7, close to my hometown, would be great too,” he said. “Give me five or six weeks and I’m ready to fight. I haven’t stop training. I train two, sometimes three times a day. I’m stronger, working on my muay thai and a lot of grappling, jiu-jitsu and wrestling. When I set my next fight, I’ll do the last six weeks of my camp at ATT.”

Light heavyweight brawler Fabio Maldonado wants to get back on track, and he’s willing to fight anyone in the top 15 in his next UFC fight.

The Brazilian fighter, who lost via decision to former champion Quinton Jackson at UFC 184 in April, has tweaked a few things in his training regime following his last bout, but the main thing he’s changed is the mental aspect.

“My head made me lose that fight,” Maldonado told MMAFighting.com. “I didn’t take risks early in the fight because ‘Rampage’ has heavy hands and can knock anyone out with a punch, but I should have come back stronger in the second round, but didn’t. I think it was a close fight, but he really won the first and third rounds.”

Ranked at No. 13 in the 205-pound division, Maldonado listed who he would like to face next in the UFC, and that includes pretty much everyone in the top 15.

“There are a lot of fighters I would like to fight, guys that would put on great fights against me,” he said. “I know I’m not at their level right now, but (Alexander) Gustafsson, Jimi Manuwa, Ovince Saint Preux, Anthony Johnson… I know Johnson is at the top of the ranking, but I would love to fight him.

“Tom Lawlor, who just knocked out Gian Villante, would also be a great fight for fans. This Polish fighter, Jan Blachowicz, is a good fighter too. Or maybe Ilir Latifi. It’s always a tough fight when you’re facing an opponent in the Top 15. Give me six weeks and I’m ready to fight.”

Among those fighters, St. Preux and Latifi are the only ones not currently booked. OSP recently lost to Glover Teixeira via submission in the main event of UFC Fight Night 73, while Latifi comes off a 56-second win over Hans Stringer weeks before at UFC Fight Night 72.

Maldonado hopes to fight in October, but would gladly welcome a chance to be part of the upcoming Fight Night card in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Nov. 7.

“I would love to fight in Sao Paulo. If they give me a fight in October would be even better, but Nov. 7, close to my hometown, would be great too,” he said. “Give me five or six weeks and I’m ready to fight. I haven’t stop training. I train two, sometimes three times a day. I’m stronger, working on my muay thai and a lot of grappling, jiu-jitsu and wrestling. When I set my next fight, I’ll do the last six weeks of my camp at ATT.”