The theme thus far in 2023 for Bradon Pagaoa has been an absence of exercise.
Having been 9 months for the reason that final time Pagaoa has stepped into the cage, he’s desperate to get again to motion and begin the ball rolling on his yr.
“Had slightly little bit of a gradual begin to the yr,” Pagaoa instructed MMAWeekly.com. “I haven’t fought since August, however I’ve been in camps, getting after it, and doing what I at all times do. I’ve been attempting to raised myself in all elements of the sport.”
If the break day has had any constructive impact it’s been that Pagaoa has been capable of work on his recreation and develop into a extra absolutely developed fighter for his return to motion this yr.
“I believe it’s clear to everybody the place my holes are, and that will be the grappling division, however I’ve been working actually laborious on that and specializing in placing all of it collectively,” mentioned Pagaoa. “I’ve not simply been specializing in grappling or putting, however being a (full-fledged) blended martial artist.”
This Friday in Chandler, Arizona, Pagaoa (3-1) kicks off his 2023 versus Humberto Duarte (5-2) in a flyweight principal card bout at LFA 158.
“I believe in each struggle I’m attempting to make a press release,” Pagaoa mentioned. “I need to put a stamp on it. I need to depart little question. I need to present one thing new. Each struggle is the most important struggle of my life.
“(Duarte’s) a tricky man. He finishes folks. It looks like he likes to face and bang, which is what I love to do. I really feel like I’ve to get in his face and make it ugly slightly bit. I do know I’m a really slick and transferring striker, however I believe he would be the mover this struggle, so I’ll must strain slightly bit extra and make it dirty.”
The principle factor transferring ahead for Pagaoa shouldn’t be solely to remain energetic to have the time to develop his recreation in order that when he makes steps up in his profession he’s prepared for them.
“I type of prefer to take it because it comes,” mentioned Pagaoa. “Being that I’m so younger within the recreation, and simply younger interval, I actually prefer to take the time to develop between fights. I don’t need to be the identical man like in earlier fights.
“I don’t thoughts brief layoffs – I can’t be doing year-long layoffs or one thing like that – however brief layoffs to fine-tune abilities and get higher in locations I’m all for that.”
