Ian Heinisch focused on being best version of himself at UFC on ESPN 27 after mistakes vs. Gastelum

Ian Heinisch thinks he gave Kelvin Gastelum too much respect in their first outing and vows not to make that mistake again.

In the biggest spot of his career, Heinisch (14-4 MMA, 3-3 UFC) dropped a unanimous decision to former interim title challenger Gastelum at UFC 258 in February. He was outwrestled over the course of three rounds in a gritty affair.

Heinisch admits he focused a little too much on the potential dangers the heavy-handed Gastelum can bring, which didn’t allow him to generate much offense. So going into his fight with Nassourdine Imamov (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at UFC on ESPN 27 on July 24, the former LFA middleweight champion is only worrying about what he brings to the table.

“I feel like I over-assessed Kelvin Gastelum in my last fight,” Heinisch told MMA Junkie Radio. “Obviously, I was a fan, first off. And then watching him fight Israel (Adesanya) and almost take him out and put it on him like he did, I feel like I looked into that too much and was so focused on his striking and kind of left myself open for the wrestling. (Imamov) – I know he’s fought Phil Hawes. It’s the only fight (of his) I’ve watched. He’s my teammate. He’s given me some pointers. But honestly, I haven’t looked at his record.

“My coaches have trained me on some things that he does. But this whole camp has just been about ‘be the best version of you.’ There’s so many bodies at Sanford (MMA). If I can adjust to any fighter – because a good fighter is going to come out different every fight, so you can’t really train for the old him. You just want to be that fighter that can make those adjustments in the fight no matter how that fighter comes out. If he wants to wrestle all of a sudden, or now he’s wanting to strike, now he’s wanting to hop around like some karate kid, you can make these adjustments.”

After bouncing around numerous camps, Heinisch has found a home at Sanford MMA in Florida, where he’s had access to a wide range of top-level fighters and former champions.

“So I’ve just been training with so many diverse people like Raymond Daniels when he’s coming in; Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson; Gregory (Rodrigues), who’s just newly in the UFC; and mostly just tall guys,” Heinisch said. “So I’m getting that kind of look. Jason Jackson with Bellator, (too).

“These guys have been able to push me and make me the best version of me, and I believe if I just go in there and fight him and not fight me and him – because that’s kind of what I was doing before. I felt like I was not just fighting my opponent, I was fighting myself, as well. I just want to fight my opponent this fight. I want to be the best me. I want to have an active year. But I’ve got a big challenge in front of me, and I look to destroy this man on the 24th.”