LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Zac Pauga[/autotag] likes the style matchup against [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag].
Pauga (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) meets Wright (12-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 219 co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.
He takes on Wright, who has finished all his wins, but also has been finished in all his losses.
“It’s an exciting matchup,” Pauga told reporters at media day Wednesday. “He is the definition of a kill or be killed fighter. He’s never even been to a third round. I think that plays in my favor.
“I have a style, especially at light heavyweight, where I’m trying to push him against the wall, grind him out, and him trying to get out of there early is just going to play in my hands.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=420030788 tag=420038866]
Pauga made it to the final on Season 30 of “The Ultimate Fighter” as a heavyweight, but will return to his natural light heavyweight class in his UFC debut against Wright.
“I definitely had to clean up my diet,” Pauga said on returning to 205. “I walked in the cage last fight at my natural walk-around weight of 245. That’s what I walk around at. So I did have to hire a nutritionist, get a diet – but I’m better for it.
“It makes me a better fighter. It makes me a little bit more pissed off and a little bit angrier. I’m a better fighter. I’m lighter, I’m faster, but it is frustrating. It makes camp different.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 219.