UFC 318 is set to go down this weekend with the BMF title on the line in a high-stakes trilogy bout that will see one of mixed martial arts’ most revered fighters hang up the gloves, and one of the participants on this card is brimming with excitement about being part of all of this.
Robert Valentin will step into the cage against Ateba Gautier at UFC 318: Holloway vs. Poirier 3 on July 19th. Valentin appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts to cover several subjects beyond his own clash with Gautier on Saturday night. When discussing the headliner featuring Holloway defending his BMF title against ‘The Diamond in Poirier’s retirement outing, Valentin said,
“I think it’s one of the best cards of the year. I’m myself a big [Max] Holloway fan since I started MMA. Obviously Dustin Poirier, huge name and very accomplished, did many good things in the sport. Retirement fight in his home town I think yeah, or in his home state at least. Yeah, just also the whole card is I think a great set up of finishers and also strikers.”
“People who like to stand in the middle of the octagon and throw hands and kicks. So it’s definitely a fan favorite fight card and it’s a huge honor for me to be on that historic event, I guess. People will remember for a long time the retirement fight of Dustin Poirier and I guess also a huge arena. So I’m really looking forward for my first fight on a pay-per-view event.”
UFC 318 and the magnitude of the moment
As a follow-up referencing past quotes about how his past self would die to be on a big stage like this, Valentin stated,
“I think it’s always hard to grasp those kinds of moments. Like preparing for a fight, your main focus is on the fight and normally you need some time to digest it afterward. Like oh my f****ng god, I was on UFC 318.”
“Maybe also the moment I will walk out to that crowd is going to catch up to me. But right now, main focus is on the fight. So I try to yeah, not really think about everything else. But definitely in the future, this will be a story to tell your grandchildren about.”
