LAS VEGAS – Ismael Bonfim delivered a highlight for the ages in his octagon debut in January, and he wants to produce something even better at UFC on ESPN 47.
Bonfim (19-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) stopped Terrance McKinney in spectacular fashion at UFC 283, which was deemed MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month. Now he moves on to his sophomore promotional appearance against Benoit Saint-Denis (10-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), which takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex and airs on ESPN/streams on ESPN+.
The lightweight bout has potential for serious fireworks, and Bonfim knows the world expects him to produce a strong encore from his first appearance in a UFC cage.
“There’s a bit of a pressure because more people see that, they expect you to do that and better,” Bonfim told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 47 media day. “The pressure’s on me to go back and there and go inside and do it even better.”
Bonfim said he expects a “tough fight” against Saint-Denis, but his end goal will be the same as always: Put his opponent away inside the distance.
If Bonfim could do that, he said he anticipates bigger and better matchups going forward. He named Drew Dober and Matt Frevola as two notable lightweights he would like to face in the near future.
“I think with a good performance on Saturday, having another victory like that, I could be facing a ranked fighter or someone very close to the rankings,” Bonfim said. “I do think I deserve that.”
To hear more from Bonfim, check out his complete UFC on ESPN 47 media day interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.
