[autotag]Eddie Wineland[/autotag] pays no mind to the consequences of his opponent losing on fight night. That hasn’t changed going into Saturday’s bout with [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] at UFC 250.
Wineland (24-13-1 MMA, 6-7 UFC) is a former WEC bantamweight champion who has seen and done it all since making his pro debut nearly two decades ago. His matchup with undefeated prospect O’Malley (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) looks like a classic combat sports tale of veteran against up-and-comer, but Wineland has no intention of being anyone’s stepping stone.
It appears O’Malley has a rocket strapped to his back taking him to the top of the sport. Wineland’s job is to play spoiler, and he said he’s more than happy to do so.
“It’s a big opportunity for me. It’s a big opportunity for him, also,” Wineland said on Thursday’s UFC 250 virtual media day. “He’s fighting a veteran. I’m fighting a guy who has got a huge name. Even though he’s been in the UFC not that long, he’s got a very big name, very big following. As far as derailing? It is what it is. They set us up to fight. If it derails him, it derails him. I’m sorry, but I’m here to win. I’m not here to lose.”
UFC 250 takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
O’Malley is currently listed as the second biggest betting favorite on the card, behind only dual UFC champion Amanda Nunes, who defends her featherweight belt against Felicia Spencer in the main event.
Wineland is already being counted out by many, but he said that’s what stirs his passion for the fight game. Any narratives about him being set up to fail are not of concern.
“I really don’t care,” Wineland said. “I’ve been doing this for 17 years. I’ve been been doing it since 2003, before it was even the cool thing to do. I started doing this when we were fighting in bars making up our own rules, so I don’t care. I like to fight. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m still here.”
Thus far, no one has figured out the solution to beating O’Malley inside the octagon. Wineland is by no means dismissing the challenge ahead, but he thinks he has the solution to the unsolved riddle.
“It’s keeping pressure,” Wineland said. “I’ve got to pressure him. He fights well moving backward, which I’m going to figure out how to pressure him while not letting him fight well while moving backward.”
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