Sydney, Australia — It’s been a big six months for Australia’s Jonathan Micallef, and that’s not just because he won his way into the UFC on Dana White’s Contender Series.
Micallef (7-1), who makes his debut inside the famed octagon at UFC 312 this weekend opposite Kevin Jousset in a welterweight fight, is also the proud new father of a baby boy. Giving him a little something extra to fight for this Saturday in Sydney.
“It’s been a big couple of months. The last six months have been crazy,” he exclaimed during Wednesday’s UFC 312 media day. “It’s been fantastic; externally there’s been a lot that’s changed inside of my life, but on the inside, besides obviously my kid, everything’s relatively the same. Been doing the same thing day in and day out.”
Some fighters say fatherhood, or motherhood, changes their approach to combat sports. Not as much for Micallef, who explained that “As much as my life has changed, my approach to fighting is still the same. You do what you have to do, and outside of that, being a dad and stuff is a separate thing to fighting.”
When the dust settles at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Micallef is hoping to see “a Fight of the Night bonus on my behalf.” Which is an interesting approach. Fight of the Night usually means a war. Wouldn’t Performance of the Night, care of a quick finish, be a better goal?
Jonathan Micallef then broke down why he’s looking for Fight of the Night. “I come into every fight with this sort of mentality. Prepare for this [Fight of the Night], and whether I get the finish I’m expecting, I’m prepared for it. I’m ready for it mentally. Because it can take a lot out of you. So if you’re ready for it, nothing will surprise you.”
Watch the full UFC 312 media day appearance by Jonathan Micallef above.
