ABU DHABI – Amir Albazi is ready to jump back into the UFC title picture.
Winner of six straight, Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) was scheduled to face former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Fight Night 237 in February, but was forced out due to a neck injury which required surgery.
Albazi is willing to rebook his fight with Moreno (21-8-2 MMA, 9-5-2 UFC), or take on anyone in the UFC’s flyweight rankings to cement himself as No. 1 contender.
“Right now, (Moreno) would make the most sense, but I don’t mind fighting even lower down in the rankings,” Albazi told MMA Junkie. “Anyone that wants to fight, I’m right here, I’m waiting. I’m going to show you why I’m No. 3 in the world.”
UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) already holds wins over top 10-ranked flyweights Moreno, Manel Kape, Brandon Royval, Alex Perez, and Steve Erceg.
Albazi would present a fresh challenge, and the 30-year-old thinks he has the ability and skills to dethrone Pantoja.
“I’m different than anyone else he fought,” Albazi said. “He fought almost the whole division and beat the whole division, and I think that’s why I deserve the title shot – me and Tatsuro Taira, who’s also new in the mix. Kai Asakura, they signed him, but I think I match up perfectly with him.
“I don’t think his jiu-jitsu is better is mine. I think I’m a better striker than him. I think I carry more punching power than him. So stylistically for me, it’s a perfect matchup. If I get that shot, I would love to show people what I’m talking about.”
