From the wrestling mats to the Octagon: Why Tyrell Fortune believes his most powerful weapon hasn’t changed | MMA news

Long before Tyrell Fortune found himself climbing the UFC heavyweight ranks, he was already building a reputation on the wrestling mat. A two-time NCAA champion at the junior college level, NCAA Division II national champion, Wrestler of the Year, Team USA representative and later an assistant student wrestling coach at Grand Canyon University, Fortune spent years pursuing excellence in a sport that offered prestige but little financial security.Mixed martial arts came later. So did Bellator, the PFL and eventually the UFC.Ahead of his second UFC outing against Rizvan Kuniev at UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, Fortune believes the foundation laid in those years still gives him an edge over anyone standing across the cage.“I think I’m always able to exploit everybody with my wrestling,” Fortune told TimesofIndia.com before his fight at UFC Fight Night. “Wrestling is where I started and it’s my dominant martial art. But I think I’m stronger, faster, and better than him in every position.Fortune previously acknowledged that the decision to switch to mixed martial arts was motivated by practical ambition. The financial opportunities are not just there in amateur wrestling.Bellator signed him while he was still in international wrestling, and in 2016 he fully committed to MMA, starting a professional career that would take him through Bellator and the PFL before earning a UFC contract.His arrival in the UFC was not in very good circumstances.Fortune accepted the opportunity with just 12 days notice against Marcin Tybura in March of this year. He won, although the night was briefly overshadowed by a spectacular mistake from UFC’s famous announcer Bruce Buffer, who mistakenly announced Tybura as the winner at the beginning. The result, however, left him in little doubt that he belongs among the sport’s elite heavyweights.“It tells me that I can fight in a tough situation and make the most of the 12 days I have to prepare for my UFC debut.“It makes me more confident and reassures me that I am in the right place and that I can be with these people.”This time, the preparation is completely different. Instead of a quick camp, Fortune enjoyed a full build-up, something he believes made all the difference.“I feel very prepared and ready. I had a full training camp, and after the UFC, I made sure that I stayed in shape and continued to train at a good pace. I feel like I put a lot of work into this camp, so I feel very prepared.“I would say just stay in good shape, focus on cardio, and push my cardio. That’s really it. I focus on keeping myself well-rounded and ready for whatever happens.”Standing across from him is Kuniev, a bigger heavyweight who enjoys height advantages and reach on paper. The tough Russian is 1-1 in the UFC, and like Fortune will be looking to assert himself in the division. But Fortune was not fazed by the challenge.“There’s no challenge. I don’t think there’s anything difficult about that. Most guys are an inch or two taller than me because I’m about 6’2″ or 6’3″. So I’m used to guys being an inch or two taller than me. One of my training partners is 6’7″, so I’m used to dealing with height.”Nor does he believe there is a particular area where his opponent holds the upper hand. Asked where Kuniev is weakest if the fight were to take place on Fortune’s terms, his answer was straightforward.“Anywhere. I’m better than him anywhere.”Trust is context-free. Fortune rebuilt the momentum before getting his UFC opportunity, putting together back-to-back stoppage victories following his PFL stint and carrying that form into the Octagon. A win over Kuniev, who currently sits one spot above him in the rankings, would move him another step closer to the top contenders in the division.“I’m number nine right now, and he’s number eight. So I think it moves me up a spot in the rankings. My next opportunity, I think, is even higher in the rankings. As long as I continue to climb the ranks and get the belt, that’s what I want.”For all the milestones that have marked his career in the sport — from national wrestling titles to Bellator main events and now the UFC — Fortune insists little has changed in the way he approaches competition.“Nothing. Nothing changes. Same job, same mission, same goals as always. Just go out there, dominate, win the fight, and move on.”(Watch UFC Fight Night – Ankalaev vs Rountree Jr. on July 25, from 9:30 PM IST live on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD and Sony LIV.)