ABU DHABI – For Marc Diakiese, UFC on ESPN+ 30 is an opportunity to see where he stands in the lightweight division.
Diakiese (14-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) faces Rafael Fiziev this Saturday at Yas Island, looking to make it three wins in a row.
After dropping three straight, the once highly-touted prospect Diakiese was able to turn things around by picking up back-to-back wins over Joseph Duffy and, most recently, Lando Vannata last September in Copenhagen.
His matchup with Fiziev (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) pits two of the most entertaining strikers in the lightweight division, and Diakiese is ready to prove that he belongs in the top-15.
“I’ve had like three opponents; I just wanted to fight,” Diakiese told MMA Junkie and other reporters Thursday. “When I seen this guy, he brings heat. He comes to fight, and that’s the kind of fights I want now, just to test myself, to know where I’m at before I start to enter these rankings because I do feel I’m ready for rankings, but he’s a perfect opponent for me to really find out how I can do in the rankings.”
Diakiese has traveled around the world to get different looks in training, but ultimately found a recipe for success back home in the U.K., where he was able to get a lot more individual attention.
“Just my mindset and coming back home,” Diakiese said on his recent success. “Be more organized than I was. I’ve come back, I’ve really set my team together, it’s all about me and each coach, individual got input in my team so I feel that’s what I needed.
“Because before, I felt I was just going out there and fighting obviously without a brain to be honest. I felt a bit stupid because I had no game plan, just going in and being crazy which I feel when I go out now, I’ve got a game plan and try and implement it nicely.”
To hear more from Diakiese, check out the video above.
UFC on ESPN+ 30 takes place at Flash Forum. The night’s main card streams live on ESPN+ following prelims on ESPN and ESPN+.
