LAS VEGAS – Chris Wade thinks Bubba Jenkins has lost the mental battle ahead of their rematch.
Wade sees his opponent too emotional as they gear up to fight a second time on the main card of Saturday’s PFL 2023, Week 1 event at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas. Wade (22-8) doesn’t think Jenkins (19-6) is in the right state of mind, and that could cost him come fight night.
“I live rent free in that guy’s head,” Wade told reporters at Thursday’s media day. “He’s a broken man. He showed up and he looks a little deranged, honestly. He’s a special individual.
“Listen, I respect his wrestling accomplishments. I think he’s a tough fighter. I think he’s an athletic guy. Aside from that, his ego is the size of the room, and he can’t deal with losses very well. Nobody likes to lose, but when you’re going in fighting to the extent that you’re saying, ‘I don’t like your haircut. I don’t like your smile. I don’t like the way you breathe,’ either you’ve got some demons deep down that you’re hiding or you’re just very, very wound up.”
Wade thinks Jenkins is taking things too personal ahead of their rematch. He thinks that will play against Jenkins since he was in a similar position in his most recent fight and knows what that’s like.
“I took it really personal with Brendan (Loughnane) last year and his friends and everything like that, and it ate me up a little bit where I had some energy that I spent elsewhere,” Wade said. “I know he’s going to come out strong. But how much stronger can you come out when you do a flying knee and kick like he did the last time? At the end of the day, it’s just another fight.”
