BOSTON – Austin Hubbard’s ticket to “The Ultimate Fighter 31” finale didn’t impress UFC president Dana White, and he plans on changing that.
Hubbard (15-6 MMA, 3-4 UFC) defeated teammate Roosevelt Roberts in the lightweight semifinals in what was a lackluster affair. He meets Kurt Holobaugh in the finale to crown the “TUF 31” lightweight tournament winner, which takes place at Saturday’s UFC 292 event at TD Garden.
White was critical of the semifinal, but Hubbard plans on changing the UFC president’s opinion of him.
“It’s important to make the boss happy,” Hubbard told reporters, including MMA Junkie, during UFC 292 media day. “I personally thought it was a very tactical, technical fight. I get the criticism. You got to take the good with the bad, and I definitely heard what he said, and I’m trying to grow from that and expand on that and make sure he’ll be happy with my performance in this final.”
Hubbard admits the tentativeness throughout the fight came from having a lot of respect for Roberts’ game.
“I think that’s a big part,” Hubbard said. “We were literally main training partners through this whole process. We were bunk mates throughout this whole process. On top of that, he’s a very good fighter, and I feel like I’m a very good fighter – it’s not always easy to just go out there and finish the guy. Obviously I want to finish him. I don’t want to be in here getting hit and kicked. I want to get out as soon as possible, but realistically fights don’t always go that way.”
Holobaugh (19-7 MMA, 0-4 UFC) on the other hand, did impress White with his finishes of Team Conor McGregor prospect Lee Hammond, and teammate Jason Knight – one of the best fights of the season. Hubbard knows Holobaugh is a game opponent and wants to show that he can ramp up the aggression too.
“Taking some advice from the boss and just making sure I bring it,” Hubbard said. “Bring up the aggression the best I can, and it also helps that we didn’t have to train together all camp long. We’ve been in our home gyms and away from each other, not living together, seeing each other everyday at home and at practice, things along that line.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 292.