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Damir Hadzovic Believes He Can Be a Household Name

May 29, 2017 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
Vicente Luque Curtis Millender UFC on FOX 27 UFC Logo - UFC Shanghai - UFC Fight Night 115 Image Credit: UFC

Damir Hadzovic spoke with MMAjunkie following his win over Marcin Held at UFC Fight Night 109. The highlights are below:

On his goals: “I believe I can be a really good household name. I don’t want to say I want the belt now. Forget the belt. I’m not here for the belt. I’m here to be a good fighter so people recognize me. … I love the sport. I’m here for the honor and glory, not the belt. The belt, it gives you status and spotlight, but it’s OK for me. I don’t need all that spotlight. I just need some more money so I can live off the sport 100 percent. Then I will be a happy man.”

On his next fight: “I had my first fight against Taisumov, second fight against Held. Everybody knows that’s two tough guys. UFC always gives me tough fights. I never, ever said no to any fight. When they ask, I will say yes. I don’t feel I’m in the position to call out fighters. The top-10 guys are. I see a lot of, ‘I want to call out this guy.’ Forget that. I’m fighting whoever. I don’t want to be that guy.”

On wearing Held down: “I could feel him getting tired, and then in the third round, I was getting his timing. He hits, and he shoots. I’ve seen it in other fights. I use my knees very well. We practiced that a lot. We did a lot of jab, knee. That’s all we did. I got the timing. I jabbed, he ducked, and I hit with the knee. I knew he was out in the air.”

On Held: “I feel sorry for the guy because I see he was laying on the canvas for a long time. I hope he’s OK. I don’t wish anybody to end up like that, so I hope he’s OK.”

article topics :

Damir Hadzovic, Jeremy Thomas