Drew Dober Focused But Not Fixated on Breaking Dustin Poirier’s UFC Knockout Record

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Drew Dober Focused But Not Fixated on Breaking Dustin Poirier’s UFC Knockout Record

Drew Dober is preparing for a significant matchup at UFC Fight Night 262, taking place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He will face Kyle Prepolec in a lightweight bout on the prelims. Currently, Dober holds a record of 27 wins and 15 losses in mixed martial arts (MMA), with a UFC record of 13 wins and 11 losses.

Dober’s Pursuit of UFC History

Dober is tied with Dustin Poirier for the most knockouts in UFC lightweight history, both boasting nine knockouts. His last knockout victory was against Ricky Glenn in October 2023. With Poirier now retired, Dober has a chance to break this tie and claim the record outright.

Mindset Shift

Despite the potential to make history, Dober emphasizes that breaking the knockout record is not his main concern. He stated, “I was obsessing over it for an extended period… I always felt like I was competing with Dustin.” However, since Poirier’s retirement, Dober has shifted his focus away from the record.

He believes that his best performances come from a relaxed mindset rather than one focused solely on achieving a knockout. Dober mentioned, “My knockouts come from not thinking about it… so, I’ve been wrestling, I’ve been doing jiu-jitsu.” This approach allows Dober to perform effectively without pressure.

Challenger’s Background

Kyle Prepolec enters the fight with a professional MMA record of 18 wins and 9 losses. Currently, he is without a victory in the UFC, holding a record of 0 wins and 3 losses in the organization. Importantly, Prepolec has never been knocked out in his career, which adds an intriguing dynamic to the matchup.

Expectations for the Fight

Dober anticipates an exciting bout, suggesting that their matchup may resemble “a muay Thai fight in 4-ounce gloves.”
Both fighters are known for their striking, which hints at a potentially action-packed encounter.
Dober acknowledges Prepolec’s abilities but points out that both combatants tend to absorb significant strikes.

Dober believes the UFC carefully selects fighters for bouts to generate entertaining fights, hinting that his fight with Prepolec is likely to be “one of them.” The anticipation builds as fans await the outcome of this pivotal fight at UFC Fight Night 262.