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Rafa García on UFC 277 fight against Drakkar Klose, training at Team Elevation & Brandon Moreno
Rafa García (14-2) comes into his fight this weekend at UFC 277 in Dallas against Drakkar Klose (12-2) on the back of two wins, the first two of his UFC career. With a win over Klose, It would undoubtedly be the biggest of his career to date, likely earning himself a spot just outside of the lightweight rankings.
The native of Mexicali opens the ESPN+ prelims of the card as he steps in on two weeks’ notice, replacing Carlos Diego Ferreira. Speaking exclusively to VMTV, the former Combate Americas (Now Combate Global) Lightweight Champion had this to say on the last-minute opportunity:
“I’m just getting ready, I’ve been ready. I live here in Colorado so I’m always training, I’m ready so as soon as I got the call from my manager Cub Swanson to tell me about the fight I was like “Yeah, let’s take it I’m ready”. There was no hesitation on my side.”
“I think they told me Thursday [14th July]. Cub called me and then after that they just talked to the matchmakers and it was a done deal pretty fast. Drakkar accepted the fight.”
Garcia came into the UFC via a short notice opportunity in 2021 and is taking another one this weekend. Despite this, he feels very different coming into this fight, saying “I feel like I got more ready. I’m always down to go in there and fight with anybody.
I’ve always said I’m ready for anybody, anytime, anywhere. My first fight in the UFC was a little bit harder because I had to cut 22lbs in two days. Right now my weight’s good. I’ve been ready, I’ve been prepared. I’ve been staying out here in Colorado for two months so I’m good.”
García’s current two-fight win streak has coincided with moving his camps to Team Elevation. Coming into his third fight with the team, he spoke on making the move from California to Denver, saying “It’s been great. I feel like I’m learning a lot, evolving always and just training with all those guys, Kamaru [Usman], Neil [Magny], [Justin] Gaethje. Gaethje’s like the one that’s always helping me out, talking to me and advising me. He big brother’s me, tells me what to do. He’s always correcting me and gives me a lot of advice.”
Drakkar Klose signals a step up in quality for Rafa García, and García recognises this. “Yeah I know that Drakkar is a very tough opponent, he’s been up in the ranks for a long time, and he’s game too. He goes out there and always puts a lot into his fights, but I’m gonna go out there and do my gameplan. It’s gonna be my fight, my rules, my pace, and I’m gonna win this fight. Finish it”.
“It’s gonna be my fight, my rules, my pace, and I’m gonna win this fight. Finish it.”
“I know that he’s a super tough opponent, he’s always trying to bully people but I’m gonna try to fight smart. Take him down if I have to take him down. Punch him if I have to punch him. Kick him. It’s gonna be my fight.”
The co-main event of the card features García’s fellow Mexican Brandon Moreno (19-6) as he fights Kai Kara France (24-9 1NC) for the Interim Flyweight Championship and García is excited to share the card with the first Mexican-born UFC Champion.
“Yeah, that’s awesome. He’s the first Mexican champion so I think that’s super cool. It’s motivation and he’s a very good example that we can all make it. It’s super cool he’s fighting because there’s gonna be a lot of Mexicans so there’s gonna be a lot of Mexican fans cheering for me.”
The fight promises to be an all-action affair to kick off the main portion of the preliminary card, which in addition to ESPN will also be airing on ABC in the United States.
“You can expect somebody that’s gonna go out there and not take a step back and just do my fight. I’m gonna do my fight. I’m gonna wrestle him, punch him, and just try to finish the fight. I’m going to finish this fight and get my hand raised.”
