UFC fighter Rani Yahya spoke exclusively to Sport360 about his ambitions withing the company while at FitRepublik in Dubai Sports City, where he will be sharing his expertise with the general public.
Yahya, 31, joined UFC five years ago and currently sits 25th in the bantamweight division’s rankings.
And while he is some way off taking T.J. Dillashaw’s title in the short-term, Yahya has lofty ambitions to rise to the top of his new weight, having moved down from featherweight after defeat to Tom Niinimaki in December 2013.
– INSIDE STORY: GGG becoming boxing’s biggest star
– INTERVIEW: The Ultimate Iceman Chuck Liddell
– FIGHT CLUB: Crawford could spoil Pacquiao’s party
– BOXING: Pacquiao sets sights on 2016 retirement
“I definitely believe I can fight for the title and win the title, this is my main goal in UFC,” Yahya told Sport360. “My goal is to be the best and be an example as a person for the people who follow me and spread the best message possible to them.”
Yahya has reason to be positive, the stocky Brazilian undefeated in his three fights at his new weight with two wins and one no contest.
Describing the scaling down as “the boring part” of UFC, Yahya believes that cutting weight has been crucial to his development as it allows the 5ft 6in fighter to compete on a more even keel.
And although he’s left a featherweight division being taken to new heights by his compatriot Jose Aldo and the divisive – but unquestionably intriguing – Conor McGergor, Yahya is adamant that UFC bantamweights are creating a lasting footprint of their own.
“[Cutting weight is] very common in the sport, fighters cut so much weight to fight and gain the fight, the next day they have to fight,” explained Yahya. “I decided to cut to a different weight where I am closer to the same size as my opponent. But it’s great, my division has very good fighters all over the world.
“I’m very happy to be there, I’m very proud of myself to be there together with the best fighters in the world. All I can do is the best every single day in training and especially when I fight.”
UFC Fighter Rani Yahya is at FitRepublik all week. He is warming up with our coaches this morning come train with us pic.twitter.com/pa8jzJNkd7
— FitRepublik (@FitRepublik) October 24, 2015
A product of the UFC’s buyout of World Extreme Cagefighting, Yahya initially struggled to come to terms with the company’s professionalism but now feels at home among MMA’s premier surroundings.
“When I got to the UFC it was a huge change for me,” said Yayha. “Not only being a martial artist, being a professional martial artist. So many opportunities came up to me and I had to deal with it in a way more professional way.
“I had to dedicate my whole day to training, dieting and being a high level athlete. I’ve got to take care of my body, how I sleep and my daily practice for a future fight.”
Yahya is a number of Brazilians making waves in UFC, something he attributes to the country’s long standing influence on MMA through its take on jiu-jitsu. He is joined by eight other compatriots in the top-30 of his division, and the UFC currently has three Brazilian title holders out of eight male divisions.
“We have been in jiu jitsu since the beginning of jiu jitsu,” he explained. “The modern jiu jitsu was developed in Brazil and also the mixed martial arts, the MMA, which is so popular now, the UFC began in Brazil with the talents they had. It begun there and it is still growing in Brazil so much.
“The country makes so many good athletes in jiu jitsu and mixed martial arts and I believe I’m here.”
