Chicago — Having joined Brazil’s Fighting Nerds team, UFC 319 winner Michal Oleksiejczuk is seeing his move to South America for training camps pay off.
Oleksiejczuk (21-9, 1NC) earned a TKO win over veteran Gerald Meerschaert at the United Center on Saturday, and felt his overall game was better.
“This is my second time in Brazil, and my skills, my cage game, my ground game, all are better. And I am happy,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press. “My corner gave me great energy. This is a good moment in my life.”
There were questions as to the stoppage, and whether it should have come sooner. The Polish middleweight was prepared regardless.
“If the referee don’t stop this fight, now I [have] very good cardio, very good ground n’ pound. I control my opponent all rounds, five minutes, no problem.”
As for his opponent, “Gerald is a great fighter. I like fighters who fight with everyone,” stated Oleksiejczuk. “I have respect for him, and for everybody. We are real warriors.”
Touting Meerchaert’s “great jiu-jitsu,” Oleksiejczuk noted that he had to be wary of GM3’s ground game. “I did my plan. I’m happy.”
That has led him to setting his sights a little higher. Now on a two-fight win streak, Michal Oleksiejczuk is looking to fight one of Italy’s best.
“I want a fight with Marvin Vettori. I think that this is a very good fight because Marvin is from Europe, I am from Europe, Poland, and I am ready. And I think a lot of people want this fight.”
Vettori has never been finished, but Oleksiejczuk would like to be the first to do so. “I think this is my time, and I can break this guy. I’m sure.”
Watch the full UFC 319 post-fight press conference with Michal Oleksiejczuk above.
