Get to know Davi Ramos ahead of his UFC 242 bout against Islam Makhachev

Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Davi Ramos is set to compete in his most high-profile fight to date.

On the UFC 242 main card, Ramos (10-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) takes on Khabib Nurmagomedov training partner Islam Makhachev (17-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC).

UFC 242 takes place Saturday at The Arena at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

Ahead of UFC 242 get to know more about Brazil’s Ramos below:

Full name: Davi Ramos Pinheiro da Silva
Nickname: TAZMania/The Tasmanian Devil
DOB: 05.11.86
Birthplace: Rio de Janeiro
Height/Weight: 5-foot-8/155 pounds
Team: Team Nogueira

How’d you get into martial arts?

I got into martial arts was because I was a very rambunctious child. I used to spend my time in the streets, picking fights. Competing in jiu-jitsu helped settle me down. I’m very experienced in jiu-jitsu. I’ve been competing in tournaments since age 12.

Can you talk about your first loss, against David Rickels in Bellator?

I was winning the fight but ended up breaking my hand at the start of the second round. A lot has changed since then. I’ve evolved a lot, though the fracture kept me from training for some time. I was restricted from full contact. So, I put focus back on jiu-jitsu before returning to MMA.

Your UFC debut was a decision loss to Sergio Moraes. Since then, you’ve rattled off four wins in a row. Before your last fight, you said you could submit any fighter, but you won by decision. Can you talk about that?

After I faced Sergio Moraes, I dropped down to my own weight class, and was able to go on a four-fight win streak. I’m still someone who can submit any fighter. About my last bout, I fought a kid with nothing to lose. He was highly motivated on his debut. Before we fought, I had an agreement with my coaches that if I felt comfortable on the feet, I’d keep it there. We trained to hopefully land a KO, after seeing some holes in his game. It would have been important for me to show some of the things I’ve been learning.

My goal is to become a complete fighter, not just a jiu-jitsu practitioner. As the fight went on, I tried to knock him out, but it didn’t happen. I won a clear unanimous decision. I made very few attempts to take him down. My goal was to test myself on the feet, since I didn’t feel I’d be in danger on the ground. Ultimately, I’m happy with my win streak. Very few UFC fighters manage to rack up four wins in a row. This makes me happy and confident that I’m on the right path.

What can you say about Islam Makhachev?

I’ve studied him. I know him well, just like I know Khabib Nurmagomedov and Rustam Khabilov. They have a pretty similar style. We’re making a game plan with their strengths in mind. I’ll be ready for anything. They are very tough athletes who train very hard, just like us Brazilians. I’m very comfortable training with and fighting Russians. By beating Islam, I’ll climb even higher in the weight class.

Islam will most likely have most fans backing him, as well being as the betting favorite. Does that make a difference to you?

He’ll have a lot of fans in attendance. And I know he also had tons of followers on social media. But that doesn’t change anything. Each fight has its own merits. I’ll be as ready as he is, so we can put on a show. A far as fight odds, I never think about that. I used to grapple in the absolute weight class. As the smaller competitor, I was always the underdog. I’m used to that kind of pressure. Whether he has most of the local Muslim fans backing him, that won’t matter. I have a lot of Brazilian support in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai. It’s my second home. I’m always training at Team Nogueira in Dubai. That’s where I’m wrapping up my training camp.

What do you think of being given the chance to face a ranked opponent?

I think it’s excellent. It’s very hard for a ranked fighter to accept a challenge from someone who isn’t ranked. It’s a great opportunity for me to leap into the rankings, and get closer to the belt. Once a fighter gets ranked, everything changes. Now is the time for me to test myself against the best in the world, and see if I’ve sufficiently improved. It’s not everyone who can string four wins in a row in the UFC. A win will put me on a whole new level. That’s my main motivation.

Talk about your training camp?

I got ready at Team Nogueira, in Rio de Janeiro, where I teach. I worked with some wrestlers to sharpen up my offensive and defensive skills. And the tail end of my camp is at Team Nogueira in Dubai.

Anything else?

I’m ready for a war. I’ll give my best. Without a doubt, my best will be enough to bring me another victory.