After two years on the sidelines, Abdul Razak Alhassan made his return to the UFC octagon this past July.
It did not go as planned. Taking on newcomer Mounir Lazzez at UFC Fight Island 1, Alhassan (10-2) both missed weight, and lost a unanimous decision.
“I didn’t prepare very well for that fight, and also I came into that fight more angry, rather than fighting as an athlete. I was more upset with everything,” the welterweight explained during the UFC Vegas 14 media day this week, speaking to Cageside Press. That anger was no doubt in regards to a sexual assault accusation that landed the Ghana-born fighter in court. He was eventually found not guilty, but the trial ate up a few solid years of his prime.
“I really thought that [anger] would carry me through the fight,” admitted Alhassan. It didn’t. And moving forward, he said, “I learned a lot from that.”
This Saturday in the UFC Vegas 14 co-main event, Alhassan is paired up with Khaos Williams. Both men are known for their knockout power. Williams has been open about testing Alhassan’s chin.
“Okay. He wants to test my chin? I have the same thing for him too. Let’s see how his chin holds up,” the fighter nicknamed “Judo Thunder” stated.
As for the main event placement, “it feels amazing. I wasn’t expecting that.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 14 media day scrum with Abul Razak Alhassan above. The event takes place this Saturday, November 14 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, NV.
