LAS VEGAS – Dan Ige finds himself in unfamiliar territory ahead of UFC Fight Night 217.
Ige (15-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) will look to snap a three-fight losing skid when he faces Damon Jackson (22-4-1 MMA, 5-2-1 UFC) in Saturday’s co-main event at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
At one point, Ige was on a six-fight winning streak heading into his first main event with Calvin Kattar in July 2020. But after losing four of his past five, Ige wants to remind everyone – and himself that he’s still a top contender.
“I think most important for me is just to go out there and have fun,” Ige told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC Fight Night 217 media day. “I really love this sport, I love what I do, and I’ve experienced burnout just through training every day. It sucks cutting weight all the time.
“So I’ve experienced that end, but I just want to go out and prove myself that I still have it, I’m still one of the best. I do feel written off by a lot of people and that’s fine. I definitely want to go out there and prove something that I am one of the best in the world.”
A three-fight losing skid often means a fighter may be on the chopping block. But Ige says he puts pressure on himself to win regardless of the circumstances, and he’s only focusing on the present.
“I don’t block it out, I always feel some type of pressure and it’s mostly the pressure I put on myself,” Ige said. “By nature, I’m a perfectionist. So, I do everything I’m supposed to do that’s right in my mind. I don’t see this like I have to win or I’m going to lose my job, what am I gonna do. I’ve learned and I’ve realized that my identity doesn’t end as a fighter.”
He continued, “I’m in my prime. I’m loving this, I’m enjoying this, so if I can just go out there and perform and be free, that’s the best Dan Ige you’re gonna see.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 217.
