In 2022, Argentina beat France in an epic soccer match to win the FIFA World Cup just eight days after Santiago Ponzinibbio knocked out Alex Morono at UFC 282.
Now Argentina’s most popular MMA fighter wants to keep the colab going on Saturday.
Ponzinibbio faces Muslim Salikhov in the co-main event of UFC Denver just one day before Argentina plays Colombia for the Copa America trophy, and the veteran UFC welterweight has a plan in mind.
“Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go, Argentina! We will win,” Ponzinibbio chanted during an interview with MMA Fighting. “Last time, I said I would win by knockout and we would become world champions, and that’s how it went.”
Ponzinibbio had tickets for the World Cup final in Qatar in December 2022 but couldn’t travel due to work-related obligations, but “won’t miss the match this time.”
Ponzinibbio finished his camp in high altitude to acclimate for Denver, and said his temporary neighbors didn’t like his loud reactions to Argentina matches during Copa America. At one point, he said someone cut the power of his apartment so he couldn’t watch the match.
This time, however, Ponzinibbio wants to be on location in Miami to witness history.
“I will win by knockout and then I’ll catch the first flight Sunday morning to watch the final,” Ponzinibbio said. “Argentina will win the Copa America, no doubt about it. I’m very confident. Sunday morning, after the victory, I’ll catch a flight to see Argentina win Copa America.”
Ponzinibbio and Salikhov both enter the octagon looking to bounce back from knockout defeats, and Ponzinibbio promises the fight will not go the distance.
“I always go for the finish but always prepare to fight 15 or 25 minutes if needed be,” Ponzinibbio said. “I don’t think the fight will last that long, but the knockout is a consequence. I’m ready for a 15-minute battle, but there’s a great chance it ends early.”
The welterweight duo was first paired to meet in January 2021 but Salikhov withdrew due to ongoing COVID-19 symptoms. Li Jingliang stepped in as a replacement and ended Ponzinibbio’s seven-fight winning streak.
The American Top Team fighter won just two of his next five bouts, but feels rejuvenated now.
“I went through a roller-coaster [since then], health problems and several setbacks that wouldn’t let me perform the way I was during that seven-fight winning streak” Ponzinibbio said. “But I was able to change a lot of things. You’ll see that Santiago Ponzinibbio in this fight. We managed to make several changes, physically and strategically, to deal with the issues that were stopping me from performing that way. I feel great, and I feel we’ll see a renovated version of Santiago Ponzinibbio that will remind you of that one from the winning streak.”
“I believe I’ll knock him out,” he continued. “I have a ton of confidence in the power of my hands. I wasn’t able to perform well in some of my previous fights for many different reasons. When I perform well, I can knock anyone out. I have a ton of power in my hands and I really do believe I’ll end this fight by knockout.”
