Vitor Miranda Knows He’ll Be Fired If He Loses At UFC Fight Night 134

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Vitor Miranda said that he knows he’ll be fired if he loses to Abu Azaitar at UFC Fight Night 134 tomorrow night. Here are highlights:

On the consequences of a loss: “Inevitably, if I lose, they will cut me. So I need to win.”

On not feeling pressure: “Especially because there are other (promotions) paying very well in Europe, too. I even have invitations to fight in striking promotions. So it’s not the end of the line. The UFC isn’t the last hope. Of course it’s the biggest (promotion), and I’d like, if possible, to close out my career in this (promotion). But I don’t feel the pressure to win at all costs. I’ll go in there, I’ll give it my best, I know I have to win. But the possibility of being cut won’t play a part mentally. I’m going in there to do what I do best and have fun.”

On following his plan: “In two years, I fought only once a year, and that’s too little. I already entered the UFC late and, when I did, I thought, ‘Now I’m going to fight once a month to make up for lost time.’ But things end up being out of our control, with injuries and everything, but I’m healthy. I’m feeling good. I want to fight well, win well and get another fight this year so I can close out 2018 on a good note. And start 2019 heading toward the rankings. I was very close to the top 15, and I want to get back to fighting for that space in the UFC.”