Dan Ige on UFC 247 matchup vs. Mirsad Bektic: ‘I’m a guy who takes the hype away from guys’

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Dan Ige on UFC 247 matchup vs. Mirsad Bektic: ‘I’m a guy who takes the hype away from guys’

HOUSTON – Dan Ige predicts he’ll steal Mirsad Bektic’s thunder on the UFC 247 main card Saturday night.

Excited to return to the cage for his sixth promotional outing, Ige (12-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) said he loves the matchup Betkic (13-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) presents. Even though the bookmakers have him as the underdog, Bektic is confident in his abilities.

“It’s a really exciting matchup,” Ige told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to the fight. Mirsad is definitely tough. He had a lot of hype coming into the sport, but I’m a guy who takes the hype away from guys. I’m in here as the dog in this fight, so I’m going to come in hard. I’ve been working hard. I’ve been getting better every single day.”

In a general sense, Ige sees a lot of similarities between himself and Bektic. They’re both pressure fighters with well-rounded arsenals, Ige explained. However, when he takes a closer look, the Hawaiian sees he’s a step ahead of Bektic – especially when it comes to the mental side of competition.

“We’re actually pretty similar,” Ige said. “He comes forward. He’s a heavy hitter, athletic, strong, good grappler, good wrestler. I’m everything. I’m everything he is and more. I surpass him in the mental aspect. That’s where I’m stronger than anyone in this game. My mental aspect is where I know I can push through the fire when the going gets tough. A lot of people can’t withstand that. I know I can, so that’s what’s going to win this fight.”

When the cage door closes and the referee calls a start to the contest, Ige thinks fans will witness a fun fight. Win or lose, Ige said he’ll give it everything he has.

“I’m prepared to go all three rounds,” Ige said. “I really feel that my pressure will break this guy. He’s tough, don’t get me wrong. He’s skilled. It’s a fight. Anything can happen.

“The way I fight, I go out there and put it on the line. I could get caught in the firing zone, but I’m ready to walk through anything. I’m going to take his hardest shot if I need to. I’m going to look to go out there and put the pressure on him and break him.”

UFC 247 takes place Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

Check out MMA Junkie’s full UFC 247 pre-fight interview with Dan Ige in the video above.

 

Dan Ige on UFC 247 matchup vs. Mirsad Bektic: 'I'm a guy who takes the hype away from guys'