Mandel Nallo is excited to prove himself against the best fighters in the world.
At 36 years old, the Bellator veteran is the oldest contract winner in Dana White’s Contender Series history.
Tristar’s Nallo made a statement at the UFC Apex two weeks ago when he delivered front kicks to the face of Samuel Silva en route to a spectacular first-round knockout. UFC boss Dana White admitted he ‘didn’t love’ his age, but signed Nallo to the big show anyway.
A pro fighter since 2012, the Canadian has several dream opponents he’d like to face in the Octagon.
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Mandel Nallo says he’d love to fight Ilia Topuria and three other UFC lightweights
Nallo says one of his dream fights has to be the current lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who’s undefeated at 17-0.
“I think every lightweight, obviously, like anybody who cares about their career and thinks they’re good, wants to fight the champion,” Nallo told Bloody Elbow.
“So I think Ilia Topuria is a fight, obviously, down the line.
“I’m not trying to jump the gun or anything,” Nallo added.
“I understand I need to prove myself, but that’s a fight that I like,” Nallo said of Topuria.
“Then outside of that, all the names that are, like, I don’t want to say worth fighting, but there are certain fights where you get more credit for beating these guys than other guys who are on the same level.
“So I think, guys like Bobby [King] Green, Drew Dober,” said Nallo.
“Justin Gaethje,” Nallo mentioned the former BMF champion and interim titleholder.
“Known quantities that you can kind of understand their [games], what it is to fight them as well as, you know exactly what they’re going to do.
“They’re not going to reinvent themselves, so you kind of have a chance to game plan against them very well and showcase your ability to sort of problem-solve in camp and then go into the fight and execute.”
Nallo is riding a five-fight finish streak into the UFC.
Mandel Nallo talks UFC debut, who they’ll throw at him
Nallo wants to fight ‘known quantities’ in the Octagon, but the veteran thinks the UFC might have something different for him in his eventual debut.
“My take as a guy who watches fights and understands a little bit about how they match make, I would assume they’re going to throw somebody at me who is similar to my standing,” Nallo said.
“A relative unknown that has potential to break through,” Nallo said, when asked who the UFC will probably book him against.
“And if I can get through that guy in the way that I think I can, then the, the bigger names will get offered and they’re going to try to see what they can get out of me and what I’m able to achieve.
“I think I’ll have one, like, solid test that’s a relative unknown, and then they’ll start pushing me into the bigger matchups, which we’re excited about for sure,” Nallo added.