Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani | Performance Over Outcome

“I think every fight is another opportunity for me to prove to myself that I am capable of hanging with the best in the world, and I think this fight is another example of that,” began Lebosnoyani, who has earned finishes in eight of his 10 career wins. “It’s a step up in competition, for sure. SeokHyeon Ko having a victory over Phil Rowe, it’s gonna be a good opportunity for me to show my skill set and continue climbing the rankings.

UFC Returns To Abu Dhabi Next Week! Tickets Still Available Here

“I see a very difficult puzzle to figure out; his fighting style is unique,” he continued, offering his assessment of what Ko brings to the table this weekend. “He’s very deceiving in his striking — I think his distance management is going to be a puzzle to figure out and it’s not gonna be something that I’m gonna really get to feel for myself until we’re in there with each other, but I’m confident in my preparation, in my team, and in the game plan for this fight. I’m trusting in that and when I get into the cage, sticking to that while still allowing my skills to shine through as well.

“More than anything, at this point, camp is done, the work is done,” he added with a smile. “I’m really just looking forward to going out there and doing the thing.”

Several things contribute to that eagerness, including the fact that Saturday’s pairing with Ko sets up as a ‘Who advances?’ clash between two of the numerous emerging names currently jockeying for position in the talent-rich welterweight division.

But it’s also because this is Lebosnoyani’s first appearance since shifting his preparations full-time to Las Vegas, where he and the rest of the Cobra Team have begun working at The Q, a recently opened facility in “The Fight Capital of the World” that has pulled in some prominent names and quickly produced solid results inside the Octagon.

“This has been one of the best camps ever,” he began with a smile, detailing the training camp changes. “Working with my head coach Matheus Naccache and our new team at The Q — we’re doing some big things, so I’m really just leaning on that; it gives me a lot of confidence. It takes the pressure off me and honestly puts the pressure on the coaches.

“The Cobra guys are still in the room, we’re all still training together; that’s definitely still there, still feel all the support from them,” continued Lebosnoyani. “This is also the first time I’ve stayed in Vegas for my entire camp. The past times I was going back and forth between Vegas and L.A., so this has been the most locked-in I’ve ever been and I think I felt it in my training in the sense of not putting any existential stress on my body by commuting and just being in Vegas full time.

“I definitely felt it in my training and just the way my body feels,” he added. “I’m excited to see what the sacrifice and the discipline looks like on Saturday night.”

One of the things people tend to miss when athletes like Lebosnoyani speak about being detached from the result and focusing instead on performing to the best of their abilities is that it doesn’t mean they’re not confident in their skills and fully intending to march into the Octagon and leave with their hand raised.

“First off — it’s not ‘If,’ it’s ‘When’ because you know what it’s gonna be on Saturday night,” he said with a laugh before bringing it back to that more holistic foundation and the contributions of everyone around him.

“I feel like so many people have invested so much time, so much energy, so much love and support into me, and when I go out there, I really am fighting for everybody. I’m fighting for myself, but when people invest so much in you, it only fuels me to do my absolute best.

“I’m blessed to have the opportunity, blessed to be a UFC fighter, and if it’s in God’s cards, I’ll get my hand raised, and if not, I know for a fact it will make me a better fighter and propel me forward even more.

“Either way, I’m looking forward to it and I’m at peace for it all.”