Bogdan Grad is “very proud to be part of UFC Baku,” he said this week, and is “very thankful to the UFC,” as one of the few European fighters on the Fight Night card.
“I feel honored to represent the European fighters here, and I’m going to give it my all to make us all, our country people, proud,” Grad (15-2) said during the UFC Baku media day. The event, set to air on broadcast network ABC in the U.S., is the promotion’s debut in Azerbaijan.
Having made some adjustments following his promotional debut win over Lucas Alexander— “the adjustments I’ve made for this fight you’re going to see on Saturday night,” he promised— Grad is “ready for all three rounds,” he told reporters in Baku. “But I think it’s going to be a finish.”
Despite that, Bogdan Grad was not about to look past featherweight opponent Muhammad Naimov when asked about any planned callout with a win on Saturday. “I’m just looking one step ahead, and that’s Muhammad Naimov. That’s not an opponent to overlook,” he stated. “I respect him, I think he’s very strong, but Saturday night, we’re going to see who is stronger.”
Having previously competed for Cage FS and other regional promotions, Grad also addressed the differences between fighting there, and for the UFC.
“The big difference is of course the professionalism of every fighter, because of course in the UFC they’re the best in the world. And the stage. It’s a big stage, a lot of people are watching, and that’s also impacting the mind. But I think I can [handle] that well.”
Watch the full UFC Baku media day appearance by Bogdan Grad above.
