Gabriel Bonfim will look to extend his win streak to four this Saturday at UFC Vegas 111, when the highly touted Brazilian prospect faces seasoned welterweight veteran Randy Brown in the main event at the UFC APEX.
Bonfim (18-1) steps into his first main event spotlight against Brown in Las Vegas. With the added attention comes increased media and promotional duties, responsibilities the Brazilian has embraced with ease.
“It’s fine. We’ve been able to deal with everything that comes with the main event. I’m really happy to be doing the main event,” Bonfim told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.
“No extra stress.”
The matchup with Brown was originally scheduled for UFC Rio but was later elevated to the main event slot at the UFC APEX. While Bonfim would have loved to compete just a short drive from his hometown, he values the opportunity to headline a UFC card even more.
“Of course I would have loved to fight him in Brazil, it’s my home country, but they offered me to fight here and it’s not the main event. I’m even more excited to fight here in Vegas in the main event. It’s a great opportunity for me,” he said.
Bonfim knows exactly what kind of challenge awaits him in Brown, a veteran with length, power, and poise on the feet. While he respects Brown’s striking credentials, the Brazilian believes his own skill set offers far more versatility once the cage door closes.
“Randy’s a great striker. He’s tall, he’s got long range, he’s rangy. He likes to trade, but that’s it. He’s a long, rangy, fighter. Good striker, boxing. That’s how I see it. I have a lot more tools, a lot of diverse toolbox that can use against him. I’m very excited for this fight,” said Bonfim.
With his first UFC main event on deck, Bonfim is already thinking about what could come next if he delivers another statement performance. The surging welterweight has his sights set on climbing quickly through the ranks and testing himself against the division’s elite.
“Anybody ranked after that. By the end of the year I want to be top 5.”
