Juan Diaz didn’t get an ordinary UFC debut.
The Peruvian fighter won’t be facing another debutant for his first fight in the octagon, and won’t be fighting down in the prelims. Diaz (15-1-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) sets the table for the main and co-main event of UFC Fight Night 276 (Paramount+), which takes place Saturday at Meta APEX in Las Vegas, against highly-touted prospect Malcolm Wellmaker (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC).
Diaz feels he has the style and strategy to make the most of this big opportunity.
“If I can put it in one word, it’s ‘pressure,'” Diaz said through an interpreter when asked about his keys to victory at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 276 media day. “I’m not going to give him any space. It’s not focusing on what he does, but more on focusing on what I can do. I’ve put a lot of focus on my game, and use all facets of MMA. We’re going to strike, we’re going to go on the ground, we’re going to wrestle. I’m going to be pressuring him all the time. I’m ready for all three rounds, but I don’t think this time around is going to the judges.”
Some may see this matchup as an opportunity for Wellmaker to make a bounce back from his first professional loss. However, Diaz believes he was put in this position so he can quickly start his UFC career.
“I got really excited. I got really excited,” Diaz said about the fight against Wellmaker. “He’s a very good fighter. He’s a fighter with a lot of hype. He’s a fighter with power. So yeah, I see it as a good challenge, and I also got placed on the main card to debut. If the UFC is putting these tests in front of me, it’s because I can do it, so I can pass it. I’m coming to win and to leave my name here in the UFC. ‘Pegajoso’ is here to stay.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Vegas 117’s Juan Diaz: Pressure key to beating Malcolm Wellmaker