Las Vegas, NV – UFC heavyweight Augusto Sakai comes into his bout against Don’Tale Mayes at UFC Vegas 70 on Saturday night knowing he needs a win, but confident with his spot on the roster when it comes to matchmakers.
“I started in the UFC with four wins. I had two main events as well. I think that no matter what I’ve done, whether it’s fighting whether it’s going to a television show. Being asked for any event I’ve always represented and been proud to represent the UFC. I think I’m a model employee of the UFC so to speak, even with the losses, to be able to be in the main card…I understand the win has to come in order to stay here,” Sakai told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.
“To stay with the organization, but for them to have seen that even though there were losses, it means that they’re actually looking at this and that they see me for who I am.”
Having extra pressure to fight in order to keep his roster spot doesn’t really bother him coming into UFC Vegas 70.
“I felt that pressure way more before. I don’t feel the pressure anymore as much as I felt in the past. I think that whatever happened is past. I’m here to actually write a different history. I worked very hard to be in this position. I’ve been here before and I really felt it before,” Sakai said.
“I don’t pressure myself in that sense. I want to get a win, get to a new win streak, I know how much I’m worth. I know my value as a person and I want to write a different history in the UFC.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Augusto Sakai above. Sakai takes on Don’Tale Mayes at UFC Vegas 70 on Saturday night at the UFC APEX.
