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Bernardo Sopai talks UFC debut: “Some things are good to happen early”
Bernardo Sopai interview. Photo: Chris Önnerby
The fight game is a game of risk and reward. When Swedish-Albanian bantamweight Bernardo Sopai got the call from the UFC to take on a dangerous opponent on a few days notice, he never hesitated for a second.
Across him in the octagon stood Brazil’s Vinicius de Oliveira, a dangerous finisher who also made his promotional debut.
Sopai started the fight strong, and after putting on heavy pressure in the second round, he was just inches away from finishing the fight.
“I was close but I think the referee did good that he didn’t stop the fight because it was not enough. I should not wait for the referee to stop it,” Sopai says in an exclusive interview with Frontkick.
In the third round, however, de Oliveira was able to turn things around, and in the last minute he landed a big flying knee that stopped the fight. The knockout looked scary but the tough Sopai is now already back in training.
“I feel great, no injuries now, I had some pain in my leg but now everything is perfect.”
Bernardo Sopai won’t make excuses
At 23 years of age, the Allstars prospect took the step to the big league on short notice, as he originally was scheduled to compete the weekend after at Allstars Fight Night 5, where he would defend his bantamweight title.
Sopai makes no excuses that taking the UFC fight on short notice affected his performance.
“I was in good shape but not the best, my cardio was not perfect but I think also the time and the air there is different. No excuses, I still got tired. That’s what happened and the loss came.”
Bernardo Sopai. Photo: Daniel Schälander / FCR MMA
“Some things are good to happen early”
Even though the UFC debut didn’t go as planned he still feels he made the right choice taking the short-notice fight. With his positive mindset and determination in the gym, Bernardo vows to come back stronger and ever.
“I feel good, I’m back in training now, I learn every fight. I believe that in this fight I learned many things, when I come back I’ll be ten times better than I was before. I truly believe that some things are good to happen early so we learn and get better.”
When will we see you back in action?
“I think I will be back in the UFC cage in September or October.”
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