MELBOURNE, Australia – Callan Potter’s UFC debut might have just been the worst-case scenario. He suffered a first-round knockout to Jalin Turner at UFC 234 in his hometown of Melbourne and is just happy to get a second chance.
He takes on Maki Pitolo on Saturday at UFC 243 in another opportunity to fight at home.
“The fact that I get to fight again in my hometown, you want to talk about redemption: There’s no better redemption story than this,” Potter told MMA Junkie.
Potter has made some changes ahead of this bout. He will be moving up to welterweight and has been working hard on not just honing his skills, but also building into his 170-pound frame.
“Since then we’ve been able to get a lot stronger,” Potter said. “We’ve been doing a lot of work with my striking coach, and some strength and conditioning to make myself a stronger and a more formidable size, and lot’s of boxing and lots of striking, and really making sure that not only am I striking a lot better, but I’m a lot harder to hit.”
Potter will take on “Coconut Bombz” Pitolo, who lived up to his nickname when he was offered a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series this year, taking out his opponent in the first round with devastating body shots. Potter is looking forward to the stylistic matchup with someone who’s willing to stand and trade.
“He looks like he’s a very capable boxer,” Potter said. “He’s obviously of Polynesian decent, so he’s got those big heavy legs. I’m not too sure if I want to spend too much time trying to pick up those big legs, but look I’m excited. He looks like he comes to fight, and that’s what I enjoy.”
