It was a successful trip to Kansas City this past weekend for for
Diego Lima.
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The
Chute Boxe leader returned to Brazil on Tuesday after cornering
Ian
Garry to a unanimous decision triumph over Carlos
Prates in the UFC
on ESPN 66 main event and shared some of the strategy that
helped propel “The Future” to victory.
“Prates is such a tough striker,” Lima told Sherdog.com. “Our main
goal was to keep moving and avoid his main strikes as well as
eliminate his left side. That’s why the high kicks were so
important to inhibit his straight punches and keep him aware that
he could be high kicked. Everything happened as we planned and, in
my opinion, he won Rounds 1,2,3 and 4.”
Lima confirmed that Garry emerged from the fight injury free, so he
will be ready to be the backup fighter for the welterweight title
fight between Belal
Muhammad and Jack
Della Maddalena at UFC 315
on May 10.
Lima also commented on the controversy that occurred with
Fighting Nerds members backstage at UFC Kansas City — one that
had some Brazilian media comparing the new rivalry to the one
between Brazilian Top Team and Chute Boxe during the
Pride Fighting Championships era.
“There is no rivalry. There is no way to compare,” Lima said.
“Anyone who lived BTT and Chute Boxe in the Pride era or the
Luta-Livre and jiu-jitsu in Rio de Janeiro´s streets in ‘80s knows
the meaning of real rivalry. What we have with The Fighting Nerds
is competition — even though I have an excellent relationship with
most members of the team. We want to win no matter who is on the
other side if, whether it’s AKA, ATT, or Fighting Nerds.
Furthermore, in a time when the Russians are growing in the sport,
it makes no sense to me to create a marketing rivalry between
Brazilian teams.”
Concerning the return of Charles
Oliveira, Lima said that they are still waiting anxiously for a
UFC call.
“Everybody knows that Charles wants to fight for the belt during
International Fight Week,” Lima said.
However, Lima himself prefers Oliveira vs. Ilia
Topuria, who recently vacated the featherweight crown to move
up to 155 pounds.
“Charles wants to fight for the belt, no matter if it’s against
Topuria or [Islam] Makhachev,” Lima said. “But since you asked me
who would be a better selling fight, I have to answer Topuria. He
is doing an excellent job promoting his arrival in the new
division. On the other hand, Makhachev disappeared a little bit
from the spotlight with his indecision. One day he wants to go up,
another day he wants Topuria, another day [Justin] Gaethje. That’s
not good for the sport. But we are doing our part getting ready for
the UFC’s call.”