LAS VEGAS – Adrian Yanez admits he was a little surprised to hear some very strong pre-fight talk from Gustavo Lopez at Wednesday’s media day at the UFC Apex.
While Yanez has opened his UFC run in impressive fashion, Lopez labeled the hype as unwarranted and promised to end it all at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 21 event, which airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN2.
While he was a little taken aback by Lopez’s claim that he hasn’t fought top competition just yet, Yanez said he didn’t take it personal.
“At first, I was just a little bit shocked, like, ‘Where is all this hostility coming from?'” Yanez told reporters, including MMA Junkie. “Every single time I’m talking about him in an interview, it’s like, ‘Oh, he’s a tough fighter,’ but people have to get themselves fired up. Honestly and truly, I do respect the guy.”
Yanez (12-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Lopez (12-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) meet in a bantamweight clash on Saturday’s main card. Both are early in their UFC careers, but Yanez said he makes a habit of scouting all potential opponents and said he’s been impressed by Lopez’s career thus far. However, he also warns about sending a message that Yanez hasn’t fought anybody notable yet, because Lopez could end up as part of that list very soon.
“I’ve been watching him for a very good time,” Yanez said. “He’s a tough guy. I know he was up here just kind of being very like – he was real fired up, and I get it. Sometimes you have to get like that if you’re fighting, and you’re a fighter, of course, but me, I’m cool, calm and I’m very collected. I think before I speak, and it’s going to bite him in the mouth.
“When he goes in there like, ‘Who has he fought? Who has he fought?’ Like, OK, once I knock you out, everybody is going to be like, ‘Well who have you fought?'”
In the end, a little pre-fight rivalry never seems to be a bad thing, perhaps even especially when it’s a little unexpected. But Yanez said it doesn’t really bother him too terribly much. Sure, there’s some hype around his career after securing a “Performance of the Night” bonus in his UFC debit, but Yanez said that doesn’t change anything about has to be done each and every time he steps in the cage.
“He’s reading too much into it,” Yanez said. “All this can be gone one day, so look, enjoy it while you’re here. You’re getting fired up over people’s opinions. We’re going to go out there at the end of the day, and we’re still going to have to fight, so it doesn’t matter to me whether I’ve got the hype or not.”
To see the full availability with Yanez, check out the video above.
