LAS VEGAS — Darren Stewart is planning on dragging Maki Pitolo into deep waters.
Stewart (11-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC) faces Pitolo (13-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 32, and the 10-fight UFC veteran expects his experience to play a major factor.
Speaking to reporters, including MMA Junkie, during the virtual media day session ahead of the event, Stewart explained that he doesn’t think Pitolo has engaged in the same type of wars that he has endured, and said he expects that to be the crucial difference between the pair on fight night.
“First round, second round, third round, I’m just gonna go out there and just do me, and put him under pressure like mad,” he said. “I feel like he hasn’t fought no one like me. I’ve been in wars. Look at my face, I’ve been in wars. I’ve been through everything. Everything you can name, I’ve been through. I don’t know him that well, I don’t know his record, I don’t know too much about him. I don’t think he’s been through wars.”
Stewart and Pitolo have had one common opponent in Charles Byrd, with both men scoring stoppage victories. But, after looking back at their respective matchups, Stewart sees his finish of Byrd as more definitive than Pitolo’s.
“The last fight he had was against Charles Byrd and Charles Byrd was tired that fight,” Stewart said. “I don’t know and he beat Charles Byrd, a couple of strikes on the floor, one, two, three, ref jumped in. I beat Charles Byrd one elbow, done. It is what it is, I’m gonna bring the smoke.”
UFC on ESPN+32 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
