.
.

Tanquinho Has Big Plans For 2017, Set Sights On Cody Garbrandt Rematch

Tanquinho Has Big Plans For 2017, Set Sights On Cody Garbrandt Rematch

 

 

Augusto Tanquinho Mendes has bounced back from his inaugural fight in the UFC Octagon which saw him lose against the current champ – Cody Garbrandt.

Since then he managed to pull off a split decision fictory against Frankie Saenz.

Mendes told mmajunkie:

“I don’t know, depending on who I fight, and if I have a good performance,” Mendes said. “Say I’m able to submit Sterling, and then maybe I get another top-five (opponent) and perform well, and win well, I believe I might have a shot. We’ll see. Especially since the only guy who beat me is the current champ.”

Sterling, on the other hand believes big bjj names transitioning into MMA are overhyped:

“I gotta say so, I think so,” Sterling said after being asked if guys coming over to MMA from BJJ are over-hyped while appearing on Punch 2 The Face Radio. “You got a few selected guys who can go out there and can just grapple like that and dominate.

But you to be good at takedowns, and your opponent has to have no wrestling and you have to be a world class jiu-jitsu practitioner. This (MMA) is a completely different landscape, when your getting punched in the face and guys are throwing elbows off their backs.”

Regardless of his opponent Mendes has his sight set on a goal:

“Considering the plan I have for myself, I want to win. I can’t slack off, thinking it’s OK if I lose. I want to win. I want to finish the year among the top five. Depending on how I win, maybe even fight for the title. I’m not comfortable. I want to prove I can beat these guys so I can advance in the promotion.”

As for his decision victory he said:

“I think a lot of people thought of me as a jiu-jitsu fighter,” Mendes said. “And the fight was basically all on the feet. And I was able to show I don’t run away from that. If I have to strike I’ll strike. Frankie was a Division I wrestler, and I managed to take him down a few times and not get taken down.

“I think this versatility that I showed, not shying away from the striking, which is a total departure from my usual characteristics, I think that pleased them a bit.”