Athletes
Hakeem Dawodu Is Out To Make Huge Statements In 2022
Canada's Hakeem Dawodu Feels Primed To Make Big Moves In 2022 Starting At UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs Strickland.
Breaking into the UFC featherweight rankings has always been the goal for Hakeem Dawodu. So, when he finally had a shot at facing a ranked opponent in Movsar Evloev last June, nothing was going to stop him from making the walk to the Octagon.
Not even a herniated disk in his neck.
“Yeah, the fight with Movsar Evloev, it was one of those fights where unfortunately I was injured before the fight. I herniated my disk in my C7 and I was on bed rest for like two months,” Dawodu told UFC.com. “I thought it was just a regular injury, but it hit a nerve and my right arm got really skinny and weak. The last three or four weeks I trained to get ready for that fight because it was a big opportunity to fight a ranked opponent.”
Dawodu would go on to lose the bout with Evloev by unanimous decision. It was Dawodu’s second career loss as a professional (12-2-1) and his first since his UFC debut in 2018. Regardless of the outcome, Dawodu left the Octagon that night with plenty of reason to feel good about his performance.
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“It didn’t go my way, but even though I was injured I was able to get through the fight,” Dawodu said. “It just showed whether I’m injured or at 100% that I’m a real fighter.”
Being a real fighter is what Canada’s Dawodu is all about. He’s looking to have fights that get fans on the edge of their seats while he inflicts some damage on his opponent. Next up on Dawodu’s hit list is Michael Trizano, who won The Ultimate Fighter Season 27 in 2018.
Dawodu believes that Trizano is a good opponent, but he’s not impressed by his opponent’s shiny 10-1 record.
“I think he’s going to have a hard time with my speed, a hard time with my power and with my skills and the experience,” Dawodu said. “He’s got a decent record, as well, but if you look at who has fought the more experienced guys throughout their career, it’s been me. He’s fought a lot of nobodies and I’m not saying that I’m not going to respect him and that I’m not taking this fight seriously, but I think I just have a bigger pedigree and a lot more experience, and that’s going to show.”
MORE UFC FIGHT NIGHT: Fight By Fight Preview | Main Event Preview | Hermansson Feature | Strickland Feature
The first time that Dawodu failed to get his hand raised in the Octagon, he ripped off five straight wins, and he’s determined to go on another run starting at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs Strickland.
“I’m ready to get back to my winning ways and go on a winning streak right to the title shot,” Dawodu said. “You’re going to see ‘Mean’ Hakeem in this fight.”
A dominant showing against Trizano would help put more respect on Dawodu’s name and pave the way to another crack at the featherweight elite. That’s truly what 2022 is all about for Dawodu; all he must do now that he’s fully healthy and motivated is take care of business.
“I want to make some huge statements,” Dawodu said. “I want to get a lot of finishes this year and I want to get into the top ten. I want to start being talked about when they’re talking about title contenders. That’s always been my goal and that’s still the goal.”
Don't miss a single round of UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs Strickland, live from the UFC APEX on Saturday, February 5 on ESPN+. Prelims begin at 4pm ET/1pm PT. Main card begins at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs Strickland took place on Saturday, January 15, 2022, live from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. See the Final Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses — and relive all of the action on UFC Fight Pass.
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