LAS VEGAS – Like his opponent [autotag]Vitor Petrino[/autotag], [autotag]Anton Turkalj[/autotag] doesn’t expect their matchup to go the distance.
Turkalj (8-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) takes on Petrino (7-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in Saturday’s main card opener at The Theater at Virgin Hotels. The card streams on ESPN+.
After dropping his promotional debut in a short-notice fight against Jailton Almeida at UFC 279, Turkalj is moving back down to light heavyweight to take on fellow finisher Petrino. But Turkalj doesn’t only expect a finish because of their styles. He also doesn’t think Petrino has the cardio for a 15-minute battle.
“I saw him, and I felt like he’s gonna be a good matchup for me,” Turkalj told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 221 media day. “So, easy money.”
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He continued, “I don’t think he has the conditioning to go three rounds. He’s like a muscular guy, good looking, but it doesn’t matter how good you look. This is MMA.”
Watch the video of Turkalj’s complete pre-fight media availability above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 221.