Val Woodburn was all ears when he got a call to fight Bo Nickal. In fact, he didn’t even mind that it was on short five-day notice. Continue reading to discover Woodburn’s ambitious intentions and why he is so eager to take on Nickal!
On Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Woodburn, who was supposed to take part in the forthcoming season of Dana White’s Contender Series, was requested to replace the injured Tresean Gore against highly anticipated prospect Nickal. After the preliminary matches on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN+, the pay-per-view main card begins with the middleweight fight.
He weighed between 206 and 211 pounds when the UFC offered him the fight, according to Woodburn. His crew was informed of the situation, and they all decided to accept it. He arrived in Las Vegas the following day, during fight week.
Woodburn expressed his disbelief and excitement at UFC 290 media day, stating that he believed he was in a dream at that moment. He acknowledged his dedicated efforts and hard work, stating that they were the reasons behind his current situation. He also mentioned feeling excitement alongside his disbelief, emphasizing that it all seemed like a dream to him.
Woodburn, 29, faces a significant opportunity as well as a danger. The former three-time NCAA Division I wrestling champion Nickal, who has finished all four of his career victories within the first round, is being given practically little chance of defeating him despite the fact that he earned a UFC deal by moving up.
When the new bout was announced, Nickal was given opening odds of -2500, making him the largest favorite in UFC history. Although it’s a startling line, Woodburn seems unfazed by it.
Woodburn stated that he would be the “bad apple” on Saturday night and emphasized that he was known for spoiling his opponents’ records. He expressed his fondness for being the underdog and mentioned that he thrived off of it. He further added that he intended to demonstrate his tenacity and prove himself as a formidable competitor. He concluded by asserting that his performance would clearly exhibit his determination and resilience.
In Woodburn’s situation, many fighters would be content to be present merely. He’s not that kind of man, though. He is quite certain he can surprise fight fans, and anything less than having his hand raised would be considered a letdown.
Woodburn stated that winning the fight was mandatory for him, and there was no room for slack or any similar circumstances. He emphasized that it was not merely a fight due to its short notice, but rather he was determined to fight, put on a show, seize the opportunity, and make the most of it.
So, what do you think of Woodburn’s ambitions? Will he go far or crash and burn at UFC 290? Be sure to comment!
