Edmonton's Menad Abella and Coquitlam's Dejan Kajic both believe their upcoming welterweight showdown won't go the distance.
When Abella (4-0) steps inside the octagon with Kajic (8-6-2, 1 NC) on Friday evening at Prestige FC 9 in Fort McMurray, they're each aiming for a knockout victory.
Abella brings a perfect record with every win delivered via knockout or TKO, proving he prefers to dictate how the fight ends.
"Something just kicks in when I'm in that cage, and I want to finish them all," said Abella during an interview.
"I just wait for them to make that little mistake, then I capitalize by landing that shot."
However, Abella hasn't thrown a finishing blow in over a year—he's been inactive since December 16, 2016, when he retired Dustin Greentree in the second round at Unified MMA 29.
Where a long layoff could hurt another competitor, Abella sees it differently.
"If it has any effect on me at all, it'll be positive. It just makes me more hungry," said Abella.
Abella's pro career remains in its early chapters, while Kajic has fought 17 professional bouts—a number that doesn't bother Abella one bit.
During his preparation sessions at Little Sweat Shop, Frank Lee's, and Complete Fitness and Martial Arts, Abella told reporters he regularly trains alongside fighters with 15 years of experience and anywhere from 20 to 30 fights behind them.
"To me, his experience doesn't mean anything because of who I train with," said Abella.
"Whether they're 1-0, 2-0, or have 16 fights, I take them all the same."
Kajic Brings Wealth of Experience
While Abella downplays the impact of experience, Kajic strongly disagrees.
Kajic says he's "been through it all" throughout his seven-plus year professional career, contrasting sharply with Abella's early-stage career.
"I've gone the distance, I've lost, I've won, and I've been on that emotional roller coaster," said Kajic in an interview.
"I've done it all. I've tasted the highs and the lows. He hasn't."
Kajic has gone the full distance six times throughout his career, whereas Abella hasn't yet been pushed past his opening round since turning pro.
Kajic thinks extending the bout deep into the later rounds would give him a major edge.
"It's a different animal when you're in the third round, you're beat up, and you still have to get up and perform. And he hasn't been there," said Kajic.
"If I push it past the third round, he's mine."
Out of his eight victories, Kajic has claimed three by knockout—and like Abella, he's looking to extend that tally on Friday.
His time at Clinch MMA and Fitness has sharpened an impressive striking arsenal designed to end fights.
"I've got vicious kicks. If he breaks away from me and I see those hands down, I'm going to KO him hard with a head kick," said Kajic.
"I just see a finish. I see him not being experienced, making a couple mistakes, and then I'll clip him."
