Kansas City, MO – A banger of a fight between the 4th and 5th ranked UFC flyweights is somehow buried in the prelims, but flyweight Matheus Nicolau isn’t quite sure why he won’t be on the main card at UFC Kansas City on Saturday night.
“I was kind of surprised, but you know how it is. UFC is the biggest event in the world. They know how to promoted things. I don’t know why they put us in the prelims, but I think there (is) a reason,” Nicolau told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“I was kind of sad, not just because of me and Royval, but because of all the flyweight division. It’s a big fight for the flyweight division. I think we need more eyes on us. Specially that fight.”
The fight between Nicolau and Brandon Royval is one of the more anticipated fights on the card with Royval being ranked #4 and Nicolau right behind him at #5.
“I see that fight being really, really exciting for the fans, but it’s all good man,” he said.
“My focus here to win the challenge and that’s what I’m going to do. Doesn’t matter if in the first fight of the night or the last one. The job is the same.”
The job this weekend is to beat Royval in Kansas City. Royval has a tendency to move forward aggressively which turns his fights into wars. Nicolau said he’s ready for that.
“He’s (above) me in the rankings. He’s a great challenge, a well-rounded fighter, aggressive, comes forward. I was looking for anyone in front of me and they gave me Royval. I was really honored with that opportunity,” Nicolau said.
“I think that’s the only way he knows how to fight. He’s aggressive. That’s how he is, how he fights. He fights aggressively on stand up, he fights aggressive on the ground, and by doing that he also opens up some doors and I will be ready to exploit it.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Matheus Nicolau above. He takes on Brandon Royval at UFC Kansas City on Saturday night.
