Drakkar Klose is excited for his UFC return after a two-year absence from the Octagon.
The 34-year-old lightweight was paired-up with Brandon Jenkins earlier this year – the bout set for this Saturday at UFC Vegas 51.
While Klose has now all but reached the light at the end of that 24-month-long tunnel, he explains that the past two years rank among the toughest times in his life.
“I wasn’t sure if I was ever gonna fight again,” he told The AllStar.
The Glendale staple was forced to withdraw from a 2020 fight with Luis Pena when one of his cornermen tested positive for the coronavirus. Furthermore, he was robbed of his chance to compete two months later, when the now released Jeremy Stephens infamously shoved Klose during their pre-fight face-off – leaving the prospect with a severe concussion and neck injury.
“That push really did fuck me up… It was a cheap shot. Those are the ones that really mess you up – when you’re not ready for it.”
Though frustrated about the situation, Klose spent the following five months following a strict rehabilitation regimen – determined that if he were to compete again, he wanted to make sure his brain was “fully functioning.”
He believes “doing the right therapy and seeing the right people got me ready.”
The ‘right people’ that the 155-pounder alludes to are presumably the likes of coach John Crouch and the team at MMA Lab – where Klose has resumed training after his departure in 2019. He attributes his early career success, in part, to the Arizona gym, and is delighted to be under their tutelage once again.
“It was me against the world when it shouldn’t have been like that. It should be me and my team against everyone.”
Klose feels his game has evolved since his last appearance in the cage – a back and forth affair with current top lightweight contender Beneil Dariush at UFC 248 that saw him close to finishing the fight, before getting caught with an overhand left that left him unconscious.
“I just went crazy. I blacked out and started swinging for the fences, and I got caught.”
“But now,” he continued, “If I hit you once, I [know] I can hit you two and three more times… I can finish you later in the round, instead of just getting it over right then.”
Turning his attention to the fight at hand, Klose isn’t sold on Jenkins’ ability and believes his past encounters with Mark Diakase and Lando Vannata will prove invaluable in the coming battle.
“I’m not sure what he’s really good at,” he said, puzzled.
”… He’s just banking on something spinny – a spinning elbow or a flying knee… I’ve seen that [before]”
The 34-year-old notes that “at the end of the day, anything can happen in a fight,” but believes Jenkins is too often there to be hit. The UFC veteran envisions himself securing a finish before the fifteen-minute contest reaches its duration, but concludes “at the end of the day – I just wanna get that win. I just gotta go out there and let people know that, hey I’m still here…”
“You guys haven’t seen the best of me… I still have a lot left in me.”
Fighter profile
Drakkar Klose is a 34 year old male fighter from United States with 11 pro wins and 2 losses. Klose is scheduled to fight Brandon Jenkins at UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 on Saturday April 16, 2022.
Drakkar Klose’s recent form coming into this matchup
Drakkar Klose has gone 3-2 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.
- Loss vs Beneil Dariush • KO/TKO R2 1:00 • 2020-03-07
- Win vs Christos Giagos • Decision R3 5:00 • 2019-08-17
- Win vs Bobby Green • Decision R3 5:00 • 2018-12-15
- Win vs Lando Vannata • Decision R3 5:00 • 2018-07-07
- Loss vs David Teymur • Decision R3 5:00 • 2017-12-02
Drakkar Klose’s next opponent: “The Human Highlight Reel” Brandon Jenkins
“The Human Highlight Reel” Brandon Jenkins’s recent form coming into this matchup
“The Human Highlight Reel” Brandon Jenkins is a 30 year old male fighter from United States with 15 pro wins and 8 losses. Jenkins is scheduled to fight Drakkar Klose at UFC Fight Night: Luque vs. Muhammad 2 on Saturday April 16, 2022.
Brandon Jenkins has gone 3-2 in the last 5 professional MMA fights.
- Loss vs Zhu Rong • KO/TKO R3 4:35 • 2021-09-18
- Win vs Jacob Kilburn • KO/TKO R1 2:56 • 2021-08-27
- Win vs Aaron Mitchell • Decision R5 5:00 • 2021-03-26
- Win vs Jordin Hinman • KO/TKO R1 2:03 • 2020-11-21
- Loss vs Mike Breeden • KO/TKO R3 1:51 • 2019-09-27
How to watch and bet on Drakkar Klose vs Brandon Jenkins
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