Thiago Eyes for the Title Patiently
Paulo Thiago doesn’t think a victory Saturday over Martin Kampmann will earn him a title shot even though, over the next UFC welterweight title challenger in Josh Koscheck and a 3-1 mark in the Octagon overall, he has a stoppage time win.
On the main card of UFC 115, in a pivotal welterweight bout, Thiago takes on Kampmann. Kampmann, at UFC 108, is coming off a submission win over Jacob Volkmann and he is ranked No.10. Finishing Mike Swick with a brabo choke Feb. 6 at UFC 109, the No. 5-ranked Thiago also scored a sub in his most recent bout.
“Kampmann is a very tough guy, with several victories by knockout and submission, He is very dangerous. I will have to be fine-tuned in combat, but I am prepared to make a good fight. It will be a great challenge”, said Thiago.
Thiago will be keeping an eye on the top of the welterweight division, even though he is focused on Kampmann. Against Josh Koscheck sometime after the two finishes coaching on the upcoming season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, champion Georges St. Pierre will defend his title.
Thiago believes Koscheck will be a tougher fight for GSP the second time around and respects him too. Thiago stopped the AKA-trained fighter in his UFC debut and this is something St. Pierre failed to do.
“Koscheck is getting into a very good rhythm, He is excellent both standing and on the floor. In addition, he is a fighter as strategic as GSP — we saw that in his last fight. He was able to strike with Paul Daley, but he preferred the smarter strategy in the fight and was very intelligent. It will be a tough fight for GSP”, said Thiago.
Thiago was also full of praise for GSP himself. The Brazilian does think St. Pierre will be tough to beat.
“He is a spectacular fighter. He is very good, He is an excellent strategist, very good at takedowns and dominates the whole game, but sometime someone will defeat him”, said Thiago said.