UFC 288 Exclusive: InsideSport: We have exclusively got Drew Dober with us. Hello, everybody. So we have got exclusively Drew Dober with us and that UFC 288 Fight week. So do you already know you’ve got a big fight coming up with Matt Frevola? Just take us through what is going through your mind in this fight? And where do you stand at this point? Follow UFC News Updates with Insidesport.IN
Drew Dober:
Yeah, Matt Frevola is talented, pretty chaotic, he engages. And man, he tries to get that finish, which are the fights that I absolutely love. So this fight is super exciting. And I’m ready to make weight step in that cage and put on our performance in the night.
InsideSport:
Like, you’re clearly the ranked opponent, you’re the ACE if compared with Matt Frevola at this particular point with this, but this is not something that has faced for Frevola from saying that he’s going to be the first person to knock you out. So your response to that
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Drew Dober:
I’m excited for it. I mean, guys that are like willing to engage in that kind of a fight is the reason I do this sport. We’re here to make memories and and create fantastic fights. So even though I’m ranked I’m well aware that that role is dangerous. He’s going to bring in some heavy hits, and I’m prepared for it.
InsideSport:
Yeah, this is the perfect like this is a recipe for a perfect matchup like you are on a three fight win kill streak. Rebola has won two of his last fights via knockout. And it’s pretty obvious that the fight between even football can also end in a stoppage. Do you see the same happening? Like will it influence you to go straight after him from the beginning? Or are you even ready for a fight full round fight where the fight can actually go to the judge’s decision.
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Drew Dober:
I’m ready to go to the judge’s decision. I’ve been training for a full 15 minutes, but within that 15 minutes, we’re going to make a fantastic fight. I’m not trying to be the chaotic fighter with him. I’m trying to be the more polished fighter. So that way, I’ll find his chin eventually.
InsideSport:
Now you also said that you’re quite optimistic about the fight between you and football are being one of the most recognized fights at UFC 288 Do you feel like there are any other matchups in the card that can give us good competition to you two guys are being the fight of the night.
Drew Dober:
Chaos brings in some hell of a fight so I’m probably fighting for him you know for fight of the night but, man, I got my eyes on Henry Cejudo and Aljamain Sterling. That fight is gonna be amazing and I can’t wait to get my job done and over with, grab some popcorn and enjoy that fight.
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InsideSport:
Like I’ve said, legendary card is like the Henry Cejudo is coming back and it’s going to be great. And if you are a Combat Fan, this movie you can miss out on this event. But also like Canelo is fighting this weekend. So give us a certain like five points on why a fight fan cannot miss UFC 288 And it’s a better option than Canelo vs Ryder.
Drew Dober:
I mean, as you get that new main event, which is the number one contender in the welterweight division between Burns, and Belal, you know, the main event, you know, with Henry Cejudo, I mean, this is definitely going to, you know, show the best 135 bantamweight in the world, if not ever, but the fights gonna be fantastic. I mean, we’re having a lot of changes on the cards, but I think given the opportunity to the young and hungry guys creates a more fantastic fight and by the pay per view and we all know you’re gonna be entertained.
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InsideSport:
Like going back to your fight with Matt Frevola, like you’re one of the most entertaining fighters in the lightweight division and lightweight division itself is one of the most competitive weight classes in the UFC. Like we have seen as well Adesanya get get the middleweight title. So soon within two years, we have seen Alex Pereira again, it’s so pretty fast. But like when it comes to the lightweight division, you have seen people take their time off like Islam Makhachev, Khabib they took the time they took the time to become the champions. How early do you see yourself holding that title? Like you’re already number 14 ranked guy, a couple of more young wins and you will be legitimate threat to the division. So like, where do you see yourself winning the belt in the future? Like how long would it take?
Drew Dober:
I don’t know there’s a you know, a couple of guys in that top five that kind of take forever to find fights. I’m not worried about how fast I’m going to get there. I’m worried about each fight and I want fantastic fights. I’m trying to get each fight as memorable as last. And I string together you know beautiful, fantastic entertaining fights. I’ll get there maybe sooner than later. But as of now, I’m just worried about my next fight and making sure that every time I stepped in the octagon, it’s something worth watching.
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InsideSport:
Like that pretty much ends my next question where I have wanted to ask you to do you have any names in your mind after this particular fight? Like just the way Israel Adesanya said like he wasn’t looking past Alex better before 287 Are you doing the same? Or do you have any sort of opponents in your mind above yourself? Who would you like to face after this fight?
Drew Dober:
I mean, the three guys that have on mind is Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler and Fiziev. These are guys eventually I want to be able to fight and create a memory with them.
InsideSport:
That like brings me to this question like the lightweight division or possibly the welterweight division can soon be treated with McGregor versus Chandler. Now you’re one of those guys who is relevant in that particular weight frame. How do you see that fight going between McGregor and Chandler?
Drew Dober:
I think McGregor is decisions outside of the cage is not going to see well for him. I find Michael Chandler putting a beating on Conor.
InsideSport:
That is quite a like a lot of people have been backing Conor McGregor just because of the record that he has in general. This is an exciting fight and but he hasn’t been that much successful in the UFC so far, like his record is not that much impressive. So a lot of people have been counting him out, but you seem to be supporting Michael Chandler. Now Conor McGregor, interestingly, has also said that he’s never been retired, which can possibly make you go against him somewhere down the line. So if a fight between you and Connor happens, any message you want to deliver to Conor or any game plan, or how do you see that fight ending? Between You and Conor?
Drew Dober:
Let’s hope you retire sooner or later, but I would love to have that money fight with him. Man, I’d be excited to fight Connor. That’d be super entertaining, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen. But we’ll see.
InsideSport:
Also, like, You’re right now in a competition with Paulo Costa as the most photogenic fighter, like where do you stand like, do you think you will be able to beat him in that or any other fighter Luke Rockhold or any other UFC star that comes to your mind after you and Paulo Costa that can be considered the most photogenic Fighter right now.
Drew Dober:
I don’t know where Paulo Costa is difficult, but I want to be the most intelligent and photogenic fighter. So I think I win that battle and fingers crossed when this cage fighting thing is over. I’ll have a mic in front of my hand. And we’ll be on that ESPN table interviewing people.
InsideSport:
Also, like we are almost in the final stage of the interview. So about I just wanted to know you have been you have been facing a lot of top quality opponents in the past that you have faced Beneil Dariush, you sure have faced Islam Makhachev. And very soon you can come across these guys in the future. So how do you see yourself preparing for those high level fights like Islam Makhachev is right now, it seems unbeatable, if you will get a chance to get inside the cage with him. We recently saw what Alexander Volkanovski did and how successful he was. So what are your views regarding that fight, since you have already faced Makhachev in the past,
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Drew Dober:
We’re making a lot of changes in my training. I mean, obviously, we’re improving my ground game, my wrestling, but also adding a bunch of different weapons. I am preparing for Matt Frevola, but I’m also improving myself overall as a fighter. So eventually, when I do fight with Beneil, Islam or even Arman, we definitely have the tools to beat those guys.
InsideSport:
Also, like you’re in the lightweight category, and we have seen like you want face Dustin Poirier, somewhere down plan and Dustin Poirier is one of the legends of the game. But you’ve also seen him struggle in Title fights. And a few days back when he was advised on how to win a UFC title, he said that people, you don’t have to actually be better than me, you just have to know how to put a rear naked choke around my neck. So that’s what fights how grappling or how ground game is extremely important in this division. So do you feel like your your chances of being a champion can like a challenge due to this for particular factor in the lightweight division about the supremacy of grapplers or ground game that like for division has? Are you do you feel like striking itself is alone is capable to like become the champion at 155?
Drew Dober:
Yes, I bet you have to back it up with you know, the ability to to grapple, I’m not going to be hunting for submission. I’m not going to go in there and you know, look, but being able to defend yourself, stand your feet, and then giving yourself the more out there better opportunity for a knockout. So ground game is important. And I’m a brown belt in jujitsu, I train grappling all the time. Just when I get in there and I love throwing hands, it’s more entertaining.
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InsideSport:
Okay, so glad to have you here Drew and all the best for our upcoming fight. We can connect soon after your fight. So till then, best of luck and stay well.
Drew Dober:
Thank you so much, guys.
InsideSport
Thank you. Thank you so much
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