Karlos Vemola comes from a country that few represent.
The Czech Republic.
“I am very proud of my country and where I have come from,” Vemola told Bleacher Report.
“My father was a wrestler and stills runs wrestling gyms in the Czech Republic today. It is kind of natural for me to follow in his footsteps. I insist on having my national flag on my shorts every time I fight.”
The 26-year old “Terminator” is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Ronny Markes at UFC Live: Hardy vs. Lytle.
Following the loss, Vemola announced that he would be making the transition from light heavyweight (205) to the middleweight division (185)—his second weight drop since the midpoint of 2010.
However, it wasn’t necessarily the loss to Markes that left Vemola feeling disappointed, but rather the way in which the bout played out.
“What a terrible fight. I just felt like Ronny did not want to fight me. He was happy just to lay on top of me and take no risks,” said Vemola.
“But kudos to him because he beat me and deserved the decision,” he said. “I was devastated by the loss but I am now in a new weight class and feel more natural at this weight.”
Vemola hopes he’s found his home in the middleweight division and is slated to take on Mike Massenzio at UFC on Fox 3 May 5th in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Massenzio, also an expert in weight transitions, will look to give his career a fresh start after losing five of his last eight contests.
The only problem for Vemola—Massenzio shares many similarities with Markes.
“He will obviously try and get me to the ground. There is no doubt he will try and do what Markes did. But this time I am prepared for it. I have a have a few tricks up my sleeve,” said Vemola. “I feel I will be too big and aggressive for him and that he will not be able to take my power.”
“I will knock him out without a doubt,” he stated.
Many feel Vemola will enter the Octagon with his UFC future in jeopardy, as he’s dropped two of his last three.
However, Vemola isn’t feeling any added pressure and is confident the best is yet to come.
“I have lost only one time at heavyweight and I am 1-1 at light heavyweight. I have one ‘Knockout of the Night’ honor and that was the ‘real me.’ I want to give the UFC fans exciting fights, but it takes two to fight. I think the UFC knows that,” said Vemola.
“I’m ready to show the ‘real me.'”
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