Hakeem Dawodu previews his UFC fight night clash with Cub Swanson

NicheSportMedia

Transcript

00:00 Well, welcome to fight week.

00:10 It's a little different having media down Thursday.

00:12 How are you feeling?

00:13 I'm feeling great.

00:14 I had a really good weight cut this fight camp.

00:17 I came in nice and light.

00:18 My energy system is really high, so I'm feeling great.

00:22 And you know, it's my first co-main event, so I'm just looking to perform.

00:26 Does it feel a little different, it being a co-main event, or is it just like any other

00:30 fight week?

00:32 As of right now, it just feels like any other fight week, but I do understand the magnitude

00:37 of this fight and this opportunity, so I'm taking it very seriously and making sure I'm

00:41 seizing the opportunity.

00:43 And what is the magnitude?

00:44 Can you tell me what this fight means to you?

00:47 You know, this is a big fight against a big name, against a legend that everybody knows.

00:51 So I think if I make a big statement and get to finish this fight, it's going to put me

00:55 right back up in the ranking systems and I can go back on my run and really, you know,

01:00 try to be the champion that I know I can become.

01:03 What did you think when they came to you and said, "Cup Swanson"?

01:06 What were your first thoughts?

01:08 It was a great matchup.

01:09 You know, my manager, you know, he didn't even really ask me.

01:13 He's like, "Yo, I got you this fight, and I know you're going to want it."

01:16 So as soon as he said it, I was, you know, very excited, and I think it's a great fight.

01:22 And I was, you know, very thankful that I got this opportunity, and I'm just happy,

01:26 and I think the fans are going to be happy for this matchup as well.

01:30 What sort of fight are you expecting from him?

01:32 I'm expecting an explosive fight.

01:35 I know Cup Swanson likes to throw bombs.

01:37 I like to throw bombs as well.

01:39 I don't think he's going to be running from me, so I think it's going to be one of those

01:42 fights where I'm going to be able to display my skills and not be having to run and chase

01:46 somebody down.

01:48 Can you tell me about your shirt?

01:49 Who is that on your shirt?

01:50 And what do they mean to you?

01:52 Yeah, you know, we had a close friend of ours in Edmonton had a tragic ending, unfortunately,

02:01 you know, due to gun violence.

02:03 So it was quite sad.

02:06 It hit the city quite hard, and this literally just happened, you know, a couple weeks ago.

02:12 And you know, his dad made the shirt for me, and he was only 23 years old.

02:19 And it was just really tragic.

02:23 Is that difficult for you to have a fight week so close to something like that that

02:27 happens in your life?

02:30 You know, yes, you know, but just unfortunately, just, you know, kind of the people I kind

02:38 of grew up with, it's happened a lot of fights, you know, it's been happening.

02:42 So it's unfortunate and it's sad.

02:44 And I just want to make sure I keep his memory going.

02:48 Thank you.

02:52 What sort of legacy are you looking to hope to, if not already accomplished?

02:57 What is the clear message that you would like the world to know about who you are as a man

03:02 and a professional fighter?

03:05 You know, I want the world to know I'm a humble man.

03:08 I'm a good person.

03:10 But at the same time, I'm a fierce striker.

03:13 I'm one of the best fighters in the world.

03:16 I have what it takes to become world champion and one of the greatest of all time.

03:22 Thank you.

03:23 It's almost been a year since you lost fought against Julian Arosa.

03:26 What's the biggest takeaway from that fight that'll help you get your hand raised on Saturday

03:30 against Cub Swanson?

03:32 I think, you know, the biggest takeaway that I took from that fight is, like I said, this

03:37 fight camp, I made sure I came in with my nutrition on point.

03:41 I made sure that the weight cut wasn't going to be an issue.

03:44 And that way, I'm not going to be so drained and I can just focus on my energy on the fight.

03:49 You know, I came in very light.

03:51 My energy system, as you can see, is really high.

03:53 So I think just, you know, really paying attention to my nutrition and weight was, you know,

03:58 a big wake up for me.

04:00 Right here.

04:03 What do you think the current state of Canadian MMA is right now, bro?

04:07 Because we have that card in Vancouver and I mean, the fans went off, the fighters went

04:11 off, we went undefeated that night.

04:13 So where do you think we are in MMA right now?

04:15 I think Canadian MMA is blowing up.

04:16 You know, we got Mike Malott, he's getting a lot of attention right now.

04:21 We fought way back in the day.

04:23 We got Jordan from Quebec, Gavin Tucker, Tanner Booser, you know, we got my boy Chad and Hallinger.

04:33 So we got a great scene and I think it's only going to get bigger.

04:36 So I'm just looking to contribute to this on my first co-main event and just keep blowing

04:42 up the Canadian scene.

04:43 I want to be kind of seen as like the captain, team captain of Canada.

04:47 You know what I mean?

04:48 Is that on the bucket list for the UFC career, to get a fight in Canada?

04:52 Yeah, I'd love to fight back in Canada.

04:54 You know, I fought UFC Calgary and Edmonton and Toronto.

04:59 So I fought in Canada a couple of times, but I'd love to bring it back.

05:04 And then what do you think of the current state of the 145 pound division, right?

05:07 Because we got the champ that's talking about moving up.

05:10 We got Supuria that wants to fight the champ.

05:12 Like what do you think about these guys jumping divisions?

05:15 Like do you think there should be a champion that just stays and fights in the division?

05:21 You know, I can't hate on anyone trying to be double champ.

05:24 You know what I mean?

05:25 Because if I had the belt and I defended a couple of times, I'd want to do the same thing.

05:29 So you know, hats off to Alex Volgarnatsky.

05:33 But you know, when I get there, I hope he's still champ so I can, you know, test my skills

05:37 against him.

05:38 So I'm excited.

05:39 >> All good.

05:40 Perfect.

05:41 >> Yeah.

05:42 >> Mike sucks, man.

05:42 >> Can I get a picture?

05:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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