Drew Dober says he will be "looking for a knockout" against Renato Moicano at UFC Fight Night 235

Drew Dober is an American professional mixed martial artist who is currently competing in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He has been in MMA since 2009 with a record of 27 wins, 12 losses and 1 no contest.

He has the record for most Knockouts in UFC Lightweight division history with 9 knockouts. He earned Fight of the Night three times and Performance of the Night four times and has the fourth most finishes in his division history.

Drew is announced for a fight against Renato Moicano on February 3, 2024 at UFC Fight Night 235, which is a co-main event in the fight card. Ahead of the fight, Drew Dober appeared for an excellent interview with Khel Now, where he spoke about a number of topics including his upcoming match, his division champion Islam Makhachev, his dream opponent, stepping into pro-wrestling, his Mount Rushmore, his 2024 plans and so on.

Drew Dober excited for the Fight Week

“Wonderful, I’m here in fight week, one of my favorite things to do, getting over for the weight part and I’m excited for saturday.”

Drew Dober on whether he would be ‘knocking out’ Renato Moicano

“My plan is always to go into a fight looking for the knockouts, but we have to see what kind of a fight Moicano wants to do. I love throwing my hands and looking for a knockout & that’s not gonna change for the Saturday night.”

Countering Renato Moicano’s choke

“So, I’m a brown belt in Jiu Jitsu and I have really art LA Marshall, my Jiu Jitsu coach, about defending my back and preventing getting choked out. I haven’t shown my Jiu Jitsu in my recent fights, but I think Moicano feels like he could show a little bit more, but I’m gonna prove to the world that I know Jiu Jitsu as well.”

Possibilities of moving to Pro-Wrestling

In recent years we have seen a number of Mixed Martial Artists switching to professional Wrestling, do you have such a plan in future?

Drew said, “I mean, if i could get paid lots of money to have a match that is pre-conceived already, that’ll be a lot of fun. I don’t think that I’m big enough. Those professional wrestlers are huge. [So there is a plan?] I don’t know if it’s a plan. If it is offered to me, I would do it.“

Drew Dober’s dream opponent

When asked about, Who is that one guy you are excited to fight with?

Dober said, “Dustin Poirier, I would love to fight with Dustin Poirier. I think him & I would have an amazing fight together

Drew Dober’s UFC Mount Rushmore

Drew Dober’s UFC Mt. Rushmore, “It has to be Georges St-Pierre, Anderson Silva, Khabib and then I think we need a fourth one Jon Jones”

Dober on Islam Makhachev’s title reign

When asked about Islam Makhachev and his title reign. What makes him hold the title for so long? And what would be your strategy if you were offered a rematch?

Drew said,

“He has a fighting style that is very hard to beat. He has been training since he was very very young, training with Khabib’s father and Khabib. He grew up doing it. So, it’s new, it’s fresh, it’s something that the lightweight division has not seen. However, Volkanowski showed some issues. So, If I were to fight Nurmagomedav, I would be more offensive in my wrestling and in Jiu Jitsu

Drew Dober’s message to Renato Moicano ahead of UFC Fight Night 235

“Let’s have some fun. He loves to have money, I‘m loving to make history and we’ll do that together.”

Drew Dober’s message to the fans

“I love you guys, me getting paid to fight in the UFC it is because of every single one of you. I think about my fans and everyone watching ever since I stepped inside the Octagon, which is why I always wanted to make the fight more exciting.

Dober’s targets for 2024?

“I want three fights, three victories and man I want a main event spot. Having a main event spot will be wonderful, putting my face in the posters and I would love that”

Who will you call out next?

“Man, I don’t know who is available. I love to fight Jalin Turner, Dan Hooker, [Rafael] Fiziev, so we don’t know who is available. Dan Hooker is injured, Fiziev is injured. I don’t wanna call anyone out, but those are the three guys I would like to fight.”

Drew Dober’s toughest fight inside the Octagon

“Toughest Fight inside the Octagon… It would have to be the champion Islam Makhachev. I think I fought him for three rounds and it’s probably one of the toughest fights. To figure out the strategy, like the chess match, is very difficult mentally.”

Drew’s Split Decisions win-loss

“Push the pace to step forward, I don’t step back. It is the pace the entire time. So the way to get the judge’s decision is I got to fight with my heart the entire fight.”

Secret behind Drew Dober’s incredible Physique

“Lot’s of hard work, I am obsessed with training and working out, that’s how I do it.

Watch UFC Fight Night: Dolidze and Imavov on 4th February 2024 from 5:30 AM IST onwards LIVE on Sony Sports Ten 2 SD & HD.

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