Canada’s Michael Dufort finds himself in the PFL playoffs this Friday, in a semifinal fight with Gadzhi Rabadanov.
For Dufort (13-5), who knocked out Mads Burnell in his first fight in the season before losing a split decision to Adam Piccolotti, the journey through the PFL has been a learning experience. After watching teammate and training partner Olivier Aubin-Mercier win back-to-back PFL championships, fellow Quebecor Dufort got to find out how hard it was first hand.
He’s adapted his training in part due to it. “I just want my body to be good for the big day,” Dufort told Cageside Press recently. “I’m just being technically good. I don’t need to spar like crazy, I just need to be technically ready. Move with the guys, have fun with the guys, and just enjoy the ride.”
When it comes to the PFL billing itself as the toughest challenge in fighting, Dufort is in agreement.
“What PFL is trying to say is, it’s the hardest thing to accomplish in MMA. And I think it’s true. Not a lot of guys can fight like four times in seven months. It’s not a year, it’s seven months. UFC fighters fight what, twice a year, three times a year? A year. 12 months. I fight four times in seven months. That is big, that is something hard. That’s why the PFL, it’s totally different from the UFC because of the activity. It’s so hard, but I like it. I like to be active.”
Heading into the fight with Rabadanov, Michael Dufort intends to get back to taking risks, and move away from playing it safe. That, he believes, may have cost him against Piccolotti.
“My last fight, I didn’t do enough I think. I should have lit the switch, go for the kill like I used to,” Dufort admitted. “What I’m going to do to Rabadanov is that, I’m going to go for the kill. Every punch is going to have intention in it, every time he’s going to shoot I’m going to stop that shot and try to finish him. I’m going to be dangerous, I’m going ot be dangerous from everywhere. That’s the plan. I don’t want to be that safe fighter. He’s a safe fighter, I’m not. I’m a guy that likes to take risks, and that’s it, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to finish that fight.”
Watch our full interview with PFL Hollywood’s Michael Dufort above.
