UFC Vegas 50: No More Fight of the Nights for Drew Dober — It’s Performance Bonuses Now

Las Vegas, NV — UFC lightweight Drew Dober has been on the cusp of title contention for a while now.

Dober (23-11, 1NC), who returns this Saturday at UFC Vegas 50, has had significant opportunities afforded to him, only to come up short in fights against Beneil Dariush, Islam Makhachev, and Brad Riddell, any of which could have pushed him to the next level.

Exactly what seems to be holding him back? Dober addressed that during the UFC Vegas 50 media day on Wednesday, telling media outlets including Cageside Press that “I think it’s very much so mental. I think the metaphor is, you can have a sports car, but if you don’t know how to drive, it’s not going anywhere.”

Physically, Dober said, “I know what I’m capable of. I’ve got my hands, I’ve got the chin, but mentally I wasn’t able to really paint the picture well.” Coming out of those fights with Makhachev, Dariush, and Riddell, he continued, his team had to figure out what the issue was, what it meant, and what changes needed to be made. “And then we had six months to put it into practice. We’re pretty satisfied with the result.”

At UFC Vegas 50, Dober will face Terrance McKinney, who is stepping in on short notice. McKinney is an explosive fighter whose last five wins have come inside of a round. Cumulatively. It’s a fight that screams fireworks, but the last time Drew Dober predicted fireworks, he didn’t get the win. With that in mind, he’s refraining from such a prediction this time out. “I’m not expecting fireworks, I’m expecting to figure out what problems he showcases, and I’m going to find the answer to those problems.”

If the fight does turn out to be explosive, he’s hoping it’s on one side, as fun as those Fight of the Night, and Fight of the Year candidates are. “I’m going for Performance of the Nights. It’s not going to be Fight of the Nights anymore,” said Dober. “That’s really up to him, but I’m being a more intelligent fighter. So if it’s just a complete landslide, I’ll take that one.”

Dober also touched on his nerdy side on Wednesday. “I can’t run, jump, or catch a ball, so in high school, I wasn’t that guy,” he told Cageside Press. “As far as current, I play video games constantly, and I play the super nerdy ones. I’ve been catching up on Total War: Warhammer 3 that just came out, real time strategy. It goes deep.”

It also helps him escape from the realities of fighting, and life in general. “I think with video games and fantasy books and the Sci-Fi and all that nerdy stuff, it takes you to a different world. It’s a breakaway from all the things you have to do in this current world. I personally enjoy getting lost in a book, video game, or even a weird movie.”

Watch the full UFC Vegas 50 media day appearance from Drew Dober above. More coverage can be found below. The event takes place this Saturday, March 12, 2022 at the Apex in Las Vegas, NV.