After experiencing nerves in past fight, Josh Parisian looking to have fun at UFC on ESPN 38

LAS VEGAS – Josh Parisian was freaking out before his past fight at UFC Fight Night 199.

That led to a third-round TKO loss to Don’Tale Mayes last December and Parisian (14-5 MMA, 1-2 UFC) will look to rebound when he faces Alan Baudot (8-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 38 main card, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Prior to the Mayes loss, the Contender Series graduate edged out Roque Martinez for his first decision win since 2017, but hasn’t been satisfied with any of his octagon showings so far.

“So far, I honestly am not very happy with my performances,” Parisian told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 38 media day. “Even my victory, wasn’t really happy with it. I think it’s because I have made being in the UFC and fighting my full-time job. It put a lot of pressure on me, it was a lot of, ‘I have to win, I have to do this, this is what I do to feed my kid, this is how I’m going to pay my bills.’ It put a lot of pressure on me, and I felt so many nerves before all of my fights, just way more than I’ve ever had, and I think I have like 50 fights.

“At first just thought it was because I was in the UFC, but I realized it’s not necessarily that. It’s just because I made it my job and it’s no longer the fun thing that I used to do anymore. So, since then I’ve made some changes. I got a new thing where I’m making money and now this can be the thing I do for fun now. It doesn’t have to be the thing that I provide for my family and all that stuff.”

Heading into Saturday, Parisian has let go of all the extra baggage that came prior to his previous fight.

“My last fight, I was nervous a week out before the fight,” Parisian said. “I was laying in bed, and my heart was just beating out of my chest, and I’m not even in Vegas, I’m laying in my bed. He’s not gonna jump out of the closet and get me. And it’s never about the fight. It’s just always about the outcome that makes me nervous. All I keep thinking about is these what-ifs, but this one, I just feel so good.”

Check out the full media day interview with Parisian in the video above.