Max Griffin knows what kind of fight he needs to bring to Alex Oliveira.
Griffin (15-7 MMA, 3-5 UFC) opens up the UFC 248 main card when he takes on Oliveira (20-8-1 MMA, 9-6 UFC), in an appealing stylistic matchup that has his juices flowing.
“He’s an exciting fighter that brings it and is always fun to watch,” Griffin told MMA Junkie. “So going against a true warrior had me dancing out of bed when I got the call.”
Oliveira has been involved in some wars during his UFC tenure that have earned him four bonuses for his efforts. But Griffin sees a specific path to victory.
“He’s pretty wild – I can’t let him get comfortable in there,” Griffin said. “So I’m going to put the pressure on him and not give him room to breathe. He doesn’t like that kind of fight, and that’s what I’m going to do.
“I’m going to finish this man. Much respect (to him), but it’s me or him, and it’s gonna be him.”
Griffin is 2-3 in his past five fights, but holds solid wins over Mike Perry and Zelim Imadaev. He is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Alex Morono in October in a fight he said he took some positives from.
“I’ve had some good wins and some razor-close losses,” Griffin said. “What I learned in my last fight is output. I got kicked in the head with Morono at the end of the second, (but) came out that third and steamrolled him. It’s the first fight I wasn’t fatigued at all. I’m coming in hot. I’ll be able use my newfound strengths and get the job done with authority.”
For this training camp, Griffin spent time training at Team Alpha Male, working specifically with 13-time world kickboxing champion Slava Borshchev.
After fighting three times in 2019, Griffin is looking to mirror that activity – if not more.
“I want to fight much as possible – the more, the better,” Griffin said. “I’m aiming for at least four (times in 2020) – maybe even something short notice if the opportunity arises. I’m always in the gym.
“This win will be major. It’s kicking off the main card of UFC 248 – a lot of eyes. It’s time for the Max ‘Pain’ Griffin takeover, and it couldn’t be on a better stage. After this, I can see a launch to a co-main or a main (event) somewhere. I’m looking for someone good – maybe (Santiago) Ponzinibbio or (Donald) Cerrone, (Carlos) Condit, (Robbie) Lawler.”
