Michel Prazeres Hasn’t Shown The World Who He Really Is

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Michel Prazeres (20-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) spoke about his UFC Fight Night 95 win over Gilbert Burns, which he said he was hoping to win by knockout. Here are highlights:

On his expectations for the fight: “I expected a knockout. I still haven’t shown the world who I am, who Michel really is. Where I came from – my muay Thai, boxing and jiu-jitsu fights were by finishes. I want a knockout or a submission in the UFC. I’m looking for that. Ever since I arrived, I’ve only been getting tough guys – and I want to thank the matchmakers because I’ve been getting to show more and more what I’m capable of.”

On speaking to Burns after the fight: “He’s a tough guy, but he was unfortunate in his remarks. I wanted to tell him MMA was born in Belem do Para, the North of Brazil, that’s where Helio Gracie and the Gracie family came from. MMA was born there. So he was very unfortunate in his statement that he was a Formula 1 car, and I was an economy car. I showed that my technique surpassed his Formula 1 car, my economy car. I told him he’s a good fighter, that he needs to train more. I thanked him for taking the fight. I congratulated him for giving me the opportunity to fight him because he’s a very well-known guy – known worldwide – and I’m his fan.”

On Burns not being the toughest fighter he’s faced: “He’s an important guy. But I’ve fought tougher guys in the upper division who also gave me a lot of work. They were bloody battles.”