Cezar Ferreira Sees Holes in Anthony Smith’s Game

Cezar Ferreira spoke with MMAjunkie about his fight with Anthony Smith at TUF 23 Finale and more. Some excerpts are below:

On feeling healthy: “I feel better than ever. Living as a professional fighter hasn’t been easy. I had to really want it, to persist multiple times, even when it seemed I couldn’t go anymore, that it was all over. I kept pushing, training and waiting for my time, and I think it has arrived. I’m very happy with this new moment of my career. Everything is back. My health is on point. I went through a very delicate surgery that affects not only the physical side but also messes with the person’s emotional and mental sides. It was hard.”

On considering retirement after his back surgery: “My confidence wasn’t great then. Now I feel reborn. I’m very happy with my training. I’m seeing my progress, my evolution. I’m confident going into the fight. I think that’s what was missing. I don’t make excuses for any of my defeats, but the guys who beat me didn’t face a Cezar ‘Mutante’ at 100 percent. I feel like a different guy. I’m ready to fight whomever comes. By year’s end or early next year I want to be in the rankings. I see a lot of people at the top that I could certainly beat.”

On Smith: “He’s a very experienced guy. But I see many holes in his game. I’m not limiting myself to any areas, though. Every time that I came in thinking ‘I’m going to submit,’ or ‘I’m going for the knockout,’ I couldn’t do either. So I’m going in there patient. I’ll wait for him to make a mistake. When he does, I’ll get him. I don’t care if it’s a knockout or a submission, what matters is that I have my hand raised and a win in my hands.”

On showing what he can do: “I went to train thinking that the screws on my back would come loose – I had all these ghosts in my head, all these limitations. But now I know I beat all of them and I’m ready to show the best of me. I haven’t been able to show even 20 percent of what I’m capable of in the UFC.”