When Dan Ige (14-3) enters the octagon this Saturday at UFC Vegas 21, it will have been roughly eight months since his six-fight win streak was snapped by Calvin Katter on Fight Island. Which has given him some time to go back to the gym and make adjustments.
And it was on the technical side, rather than the mental side, that Ige found he had to put the work in.
“For me it was mostly technically. I feel like I’ve always been pretty mentally solid and mentally strong. But I was never the most technical fighter,” Ige admitted during this week’s UFC Vegas 21 virtual media day. “I was always the gritty, dig deep type of fighter. But for once in my career, I had some time to go back and focus on my skill building, and working on a lot of technical aspects of the game.”
That included stand-up, grappling, clinch, and cage control. “I feel I’m solid everywhere right now.”
Ahead of UFC Vegas 21, opponent Gavin Tucker has said that Ige isn’t the most technically brilliant fighter, but his tactical choices are what puts him in great fights.
“That’s a good analysis. I’ll admit it. I’m not the prettiest fighter, but I get the job done,” Ige said in response. “Definitely the tactical aspect of the game is one of my strengths. Right now I feel solid everywhere, and I’m excited to show my improvements.”
Hawaii’s Ige has seen his opponent change to Tucker after initially being paired up with grappling ace Ryan Hall. Despite the contrast in styles, not much has changed in terms of prep work.
Instead, it’s “pretty much the same to be honest,” said Ige. “I try to focus, we [with coach Eric Nicksick] try to focus 80%, 90% on our game, what we’re going to do in the fight, not in terms of my opponent. It is a completely different stylistic fight from Ryan Hall to Gavin Tucker. But the game plan pretty much remains the same. We’re going to go out there, establish dominance, and do what we do.”
Ige will have some added drive on Saturday, with his first child on the way. “Of course having a child on the way, my first kid, definitely gives me that little extra motivation.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 21 virtual media day scrum with Dan Ige above. The event takes place this Saturday, March 13 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
