Jimi Manuwa intends to make the most of his headline bout at UFC London this weekend against seventh ranked UFC light heavyweight Corey Anderson.
At 16-2, Manuwa boasts a very impressive record but it’s the ‘2’ on his ledger that most people seem to focus on as they came in the highest profile bouts of his career thus far. His first loss, a second round TKO at the hands of Alexander Gustafsson, came in his first UFC main event. Then, in September of 2015, Manuwa was felled as so many have before him by the power of Anthony Johnson in a high profile fight at UFC 191.
While he admits that those blemishes on his record stalled the momentum he had generated at 205-pounds, Manuwa says he is thankful for the opportunities they provided him.
“Losses always kill your momentum but for me they were good things”, Manuwa explained to TheMacLife.com “They threw me into the limelight a bit, they showed that I’m not scared to fight anyone. I was ranked, I think, number twelve when I fought Alex Gustafsson and I jumped at the chance. I was ranked tenth when I fought Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson, he’s the most feared man in the world. I didn’t hesitate.”
With his knockout of Ovince St. Preux last October still fresh in the memory, Manuwa intends to deliver more of the same on Saturday night against Corey Anderson.
“Training camp has been very hard. Everyone has been focused on me and pushing me. It’s been hell. I just gave him a bit of that hell in the stare off and I’ll be giving him the rest of that hell in the octagon.
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