LAS VEGAS – Brendson Ribeiro beat Diyar Nurgozhay with a second-round submission Saturday on the main card at UFC Fight Night 254 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Ribeiro came to this fight with added motivation after Nurgozhay missed weight by 4.5 pounds for his UFC debut, where he was favored by nearly 5-1.
The fight ended decisively when Ribeiro secured victory through a kimura submission at 1:28 of Round 2. This win puts Ribeiro’s record at 17-7 MMA and 2-2 UFC, showcasing his ability to bounce back and achieve success after challenges. On the other hand, Nurgozhay's record now stands at 10-1 MMA, with this fight marking his first loss at the UFC, and making him 0-1 within the organization.
During the lead-up to the fight, Nurgozhay was noted as a substantial favorite, but Ribeiro seemed unfazed by the odds. He addressed the weight miss directly, stating, "It had no influence. He could’ve been 20 pounds over and I still would’ve fought him. That’s the work we do at Brazilian TKO, and my psychologist. I’m an employee of the UFC and I’m always ready to fight." Clearly, Ribeiro’s mental preparation played an important role leading up to this fight.
Ribeiro credited his mental strength to the insights he gained from working with professionals, saying, "My wife always told me to talk to a sports psychologist – it’s going to do good things. … I started doing the work with a sports psychologist, and then I moved on (to a regular therapist). If you’re good (mentally), your body is good, as well. It does wonders." This approach to mental fitness reflects how fighters are increasingly emphasizing psychological readiness as much as physical training.
Following the victory, Ribeiro expressed eagerness for future challenges: "I’m going to rest, and then I’ll be training and ready to go and ready for the next challenge. When the UFC Comes knocking on my door – in soccer, the invaluable players always have the ball at their feet and they’re always asking for it and they score. When the ball come to me, I’m going to kill it and I’m going to score and it’s going to be beautiful shot." This enthusiasm signifies his commitment to continue improving and making his mark within the Octagon.
Ribeiro’s performance not only solidified his place with the UFC but highlighted the importance of combining technical skill with mental preparation. The mixed martial arts community will surely keep an eye on Ribeiro as he seeks to build on this momentum and face whatever lies on the horizon.
For more on the fight card and Ribeiro’s accomplishment, fans can look to UFC's social platforms and venues for updates and insights. UFC Fight Night 254 may be just one chapter for Ribeiro, but his approach and performance suggest many more powerful moments are on the way.
