LAS VEGAS – Santiago Ponzinibbio has a job to do no matter what circumstances may surround the task at hand.
The UFC welterweight contender enters the octagon this Saturday, as he’s set to take on Geoff Neal in the main card of UFC 269. Ponzinibbio (28-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) opens up the pair of title fights that are set to go down in the main and co-main event of the card.
It’s a big fight for the Argentine that is carrying a lot of expectations as well as some negative headlines leading up to the fight. His opponent Neal was arrested on misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and unlawful carrying a weapon in the early morning hours of Thanksgiving.
Ponzinibbio thought the bout may be in jeopardy when he heard the news, but with the booking still intact, Ponzinibbio is not letting Neal’s arrest news distract him from the bout.
“I just sat and waited for someone to call me and say the fight was cancelled,
Ponzinibbio told MMA Junkie at the UFC 269 media day. “I was thinking they’d give me other opponent.
“Realistically, for me it’s just one more step for my belt. I don’t really care about him. This is the opponent the UFC put for me, but my goal is the same. It doesn’t matter who goes in the cage with me, I’m going to smash and go to my belt.”
Ponzinibbio is coming off a “Fight of the Night” win against prospect Miguel Baeza. He’s 8-1 in his past nine performances and is looking to make his care for a shot at the welterweight title.
The American Top Team product finds Neal to be a good step towards the belt.
“He’s very dangerous and he’s a very tough guy,” Ponzinibbio said. “He’s taken two losses, but it doesn’t matter. He’s coming with a lot of hunger, he needs to win – a third loss in a row is bad for him.
“But realistically, I don’t care what is good about him. I’m going to smash this guy. I’m going to make him feel a lot of pain for 15 minutes. Maybe he’s smart and stays on the floor early.”
Santiago Ponzinibbio indifferent about Geoff Neal’s recent DWI arrest: ‘My goal is the same’