UFC 306's Daniel Zellhuber embracing popularity growth, eager to 'put on a show for the people'

LAS VEGAS – Daniel Zellhuber is just a few fights into his UFC career, but he is turning more and more heads with each outing.

The Mexican UFC lightweight knows what catches a fan’s eye. At UFC 306, the event celebrating his home country’s independence at Sphere, Zellhuber (15-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) is ready to captivate his growing fanbase again when he takes on Esteban Ribovics on the main card (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).

“Every fight you get more fans, every fight you get the people to know you better, and that’s why I’m trying to go out there and give my best performance,” Zellhuber said at UFC 306 media day. “Because I know at the end of the day, even if you go out there and win, but you kind of look not that good, people isn’t going to follow your career.

“So, that’s why I’m always trying to be amazing, do flashy things. You know, just put on a show for the people.”

Zellhuber, who has won back-to-back fight bonuses, enters this matchup against Ribovics (13-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) on a three-fight winning streak. They’re both at similar points in their careers, with only a few fights separating them in overall experience. Because of this, Zellhuber questioned the matchup while still up-and-coming, but can also see why.

“I don’t understand why UFC is making us fight as young prospects,” Zellhuber said. “I guess they are trying to spice up things in the division. Lightweight division is one of the toughest in the sport, if not the most competitive one. We see time after time after time, contenders getting into the top 10, top 5 and then they just go kick out again.

So, I feel that it’s also good that they are doing this because the guys that made it to the rankings, nothing is for free, you know? There’s a couple of divisions where you fight one, two fights, and you’re already in ranking conversations. But in the lightweight division, you can even be on a nine-win fight streak and not even be top 10.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.