Jared Gordon Discusses His UFC Fight Night 126 Bout With Diego Ferreira

MMAjunkie recently interviewed UFC fighter Jared Gordon ahead of his UFC Fight Night 126 bout with Diego Ferreira, which is set for tomorrow in Austin, Texas. Below are some highlights from the interview.

Jared Gordon telling his story: “I think I will forever have to tell my story. Because I’m – short-term goal, become UFC champion, make a great life for myself. Long-term goal is use fighting as a platform to help other people. It’s something that I’m always going to have to tell. And yeah, it sounds like it’s a broken record. ‘We know you’re a recovering addict. We know that you have this and that.’ But there are always going to be suffering people. There are always going to be people that have gone through things that I have gone through. So in order for them to see there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, I have to tell the story over and over. For some people, it probably does get annoying. For me, sometimes, it does too. But I truly believe my reason for being here is to help others. So I’m going to have to tell it until you guys get sick of me.”

Jared Gordon on dealing with addiction: “I just got done talking to my AA sponsor. I do certain things every day that help me stay grounded. That’s my foundation. Without sobriety, there’s no UFC. There’s no MMA in the local circuit. There’s nothing for me. The way I use drugs and alcohol, I’ll die or end up in prison. Because that’s all I’ve had so far – it’s overdoses and institutions.”

Gordon on wanting to become champion: “I truly believe that I’ll be a UFC champion. I also think that I have a better shot at 145, of becoming champion. At 155, obviously the guys are monsters. I have to do whatever I can to make the road as easy as possible. If they want to keep me at 155, I have no option. But my goal is to get back down there.”

Gordon on his fight with Diego Ferreira: “I see a second-round finish, TKO. I think he’s savvy enough to get through the first. But I think – I know my pressure is too much for 99 percent of the guys here. So I’m going to come forward. I’m going to pressure, pressure, pressure. And he’s going to fold.”