Loosa, who trains with Kill Cliff FC in Florida, also featured in the 2021 Contender Series, although he fell to Australian prospect Jack Della Maddalena. After picking up another win on the regional stage, he made his Octagon debut against Mounir Lazzez at UFC Fight Night: Luque vs Muhammad 2 and went down by unanimous decision.
With a keen sense of how Loosa might feel heading into their match, Fletcher anticipates a tough test, but one he feels fully prepared to pass with flying colors.
“He’s athletic, he’s explosive, he trains in a really good gym, he’s around a lot of top guys and he’s coming off a loss,” Fletcher said. “He’s probably got a bit of the same mind as me, and his back is against the wall, and he’s looking to fight. I expect that. I expect Ange to be ready, and that’s probably going to be the best version of Ange. That being said, like everyone else in this game, he has his own openings. He has certain tendencies he likes to do. He has certain positions he’s not very good at, and I I’m going to give it to him. I’m going to melt him in this fight.
While the loss to Semelsberger is an indelible blip on Fletcher’s record, it does take some heart from the fact that this matchup takes place at UFC APEX as this fight goes pay-per-view inside the Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.
That, at least, makes it a bit more enjoyable when Fletcher looks to pick up his 10th pro win.
“When you imagine the big dream of the UFC, you imagine the debut happening in front of thousands of people in the crowd going crazy about the win and all of that,” Fletcher said. “As far as that goes, I felt like the APEX experience was cool, but I feel like I’m one of those guys who rises to the occasion when there’s a crowd and when there’s a little more electricity in the air.”
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The Lafayette native is by no means looking beyond Loosa. Every march to the Octagon faces a tough test, an occasion for which your best is called. Despite not clearing his first hurdle, Fletcher hasn’t stopped running towards his goal, and even though that goal is the one that sails through the minds of any young fighter, he does his best to manage. his predictions of emotions potentially to come.
“I don’t want to put too many expectations on it. I have all the scenarios I’ve dreamed up, how it’s going to play out. But really, with this fight and all the others, I kind of take it for what it is. And I can imagine when I raise my hand and my name is called and the crowd goes wild and I see my family and everyone who is finally going to be able to pull through and see me at this level. But to really put words to it, I can’t do it yet. Maybe I can do it after, but it will be exciting. I know that. So I’m looking forward to that. »