Canada’s Chad Anheliger is ready to “rock and roll” ahead of his fight with Charalampos Grigoriou at UFC Vegas 88 this weekend.
It’s a fight that sees Anheliger (12-7) sticking with the bantamweight division, despite teasing a move to flyweight after his loss to Jose Johnson last time out.
On his decision to stick around 135lbs, Anheliger told Cageside Press in a recent exclusive interview that he “loved the match-up.”
“I think it’s a great match-up at 135. I was a little frustrated to be fair after my last fight too. I just really didn’t fight a good fight, and I was trying to search my brain, talking to coaches and managers about how we can adjust, and the weight class adjustment was an option. But I fight my best fights at 135, there’s lots of great opportunities at 135. And when the right match-ups are there, I want to take the fight.”
The fight with Grigoriou in particular had him eager to stick around. “This match-up on paper made me really want to stay in the weight class, because these are the guys I want to fight. They’re exciting fighters. I just want to put on my best performance, I don’t want to have to worry so much about the weight. I’m happy with 135.”
The flyweight question has been a battle for Anheliger for a long time. Early in his career, he struggled to get fights at flyweight even though it was an option; in the UFC, he feels there are better match-ups and more opportunities at bantamweight. “135 just has so much more to offer. For the couple pounds difference it is, and it really isn’t big for me, I don’t care, 35 or 25. 35 I think has more pros than cons.”
When it comes to Grigoriou, Chad Anheliger believes that he can take advantage of the Cypriot even in his own wheelhouse.
“I just know he fights exciting, he fights hard. The striking match-up is what has me really excited, because I feel like I can get what I want out of a high-level striker. Get him to feel comfortable on the feet, because I still think I have the advantage there. But I have the advantage everywhere.” The includes in the experience department, with Anheliger noting that he has “almost double” the MMA fights that his opponent has. “Not to mention, this is his second fight under the UFC banner, this is my fifth.”
Ultimately, Anheliger plans to show “how good I really am. I think he’s the right dance partner. He’s tough, he fights exciting, those are the fights that just get me going. I think it’s going to be fun.”
It’s a key fight for the 37-year old Canadian, who will fight out his contract at UFC Vegas 88. He’s 1-2 to date, dropping back-to-back fights after a debut win over Jess Strader. Anheliger is under no illusions about what that means.
“This is my last fight on the current contract, so 100%, I don’t pretend that’s not a real thing. I need to win this fight, and I need to win it decisively,” he stated. “But I preform under pressure. That’s when the best comes out of me. I know it will be in this fight as well. No denying, I need to win this fight to keep my job, I’m pretty confident about that. And I use that to fuel my training, and I’m not done, man. I’m ready to go.”
Watch our full interview with UFC Vegas 88’s Chad Anheliger above.
