“My confidence has definitely been building my last couple fights,” Stoltzfus said. “Even in the Bruno fight, I was feeling really good, and I felt like I was putting the hurt on him pretty good. I’ve been making the right steps, the right progressions. It’s been getting better for me. I’m a nervous fighter, a lot of us are, so getting over that, trusting myself a little bit more and trusting my ability has been a huge thing.”
This Saturday, Stoltzfus looks to steal the hype behind surging prospect Nursulton Ruziboev, who boasts a video game stat line of 33 finishes in 35 wins. He’s also won 11 of his last 12, with his only defeat coming to No. 7 ranked welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley, who collides with former champion Kamaru Usman next month in Atlanta.
Saturday’s Full Fight Card Preview
While those figures are typically unheard of, they don’t deter Stoltzfus’ confidence one bit. Now nine fights into his UFC career, Stoltzfus believes he has the experience and physical tools to hand Ruziboev his second defeat in the Octagon.
“I think I’m definitely better rounded and have more power,” Stoltzfus said. “He has some good, sharp boxing, but I think I’ve been in this long enough and seen enough and done enough that my power and wrestling, if I set everything up right, could be too much for him.
“I just gotta stay calm, keep my head on straight and not run into anything. “That’s been a problem that I’ve had before, getting a little too overanxious, and I can’t do that. I got to stick to my gameplan, stick to the things I know I can do well and then I think we’ll get the win.”
