[autotag]Louis Smolka[/autotag] is comfortable, despite the chaos.
Fighting Saturday at UFC on ESPN 9, fight week will be a bit different for Smolka (16-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC). He’ll have to undergo COVID-19 testing – twice. He’ll have to self-isolate and use social distancing, and the UFC will be limiting his interaction with people outside of his team.
While some of his UFC on ESPN 9 counterparts may experience culture shock, Smolka thinks the secluded nature of the week may play into his hand. In a sense, he’s used to it.
“It’s not any different to me, dude,” Smolka told MMA Junkie on Monday. “This is what I do every day. It doesn’t matter. We’re going to fight. Me and one dude are going to fight in a cage, whether the crowd is there or not, whether we’re isolated there or not. I isolate myself anyway on fight week.
“On fight day, what I’ll spend my time doing is cleaning the room. I’ll clean the hotel room and organize. I’m doing the entire week. … I’m just over there waiting. It’s kind of torturous in a sense, but it’s what works for me. It keeps me focused and dialed in. All the outside distractions, all this other stuff, I don’t think it’s going to affect me.”
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Smolka will compete on the preliminary portion of the card against former LFA flyweight champion Casey Kenney. The two fighters share the same manager, so Smolka was familiar with the name when it was offered. Smolka said has a lot of respect for his opponent.
“He’s done pretty well in the UFC,” Smolka said. “He’s fought at 135. He’s fought guys, his first two fights, the guys didn’t even make weight and he still won. I give that dude props, man. He’s a gamer. He’s about it. He’s a pro. He’s here. He’s real. He’s not here for the IG fame or anything. He’s here to fight. I give the dude props and I’m ready to go to war with him.”
Despite his respect for Kenney (13-2-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Smolka is planning to finish the fight, and to do so in violent fashion.
“I’m going to hit him until he stops moving,” Smolka said. “I’m going to keep hitting him until he stops moving.”
UFC on ESPN 9 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The event airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
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