While Mandel Nallo and Saad Awad share the same ultimate objective, their approaches to achieving victory couldn't be more different.
Canada's Nallo (7-1) aims to bounce back from the first defeat of his pro career when he steps into the cage against the United States' Awad (23-13) in a lightweight matchup at Bellator 249 in Uncasville, CT on Thursday night.
Nallo, 31, endured a third-round TKO at Bellator 231, falling to Killys Mota after taking a damaging leg kick that ultimately compromised his ankle.
Nallo reflected on his encounter with Mota as a lesson in embracing his creative approach and avoiding the trap of playing it safe, trying to grind out a decision.
"I need to keep being creative and avoid overthinking during a bout," Nallo told MMA Empire. "That fight, I was quite confident in my strategy of winning by decision two rounds to one, and I believed I'd accomplish that if I had secured a few more takedowns in round three."
"The instinct should be to finish it quickly. I pride myself on being one of the more inventive competitors in the cage, but I found myself fixating on a single path to victory instead of staying adaptable."
Awad, 37, brings 36 professional bouts under his belt, having faced virtually everyone Bellator has to offer—from Benson Henderson and Paul Daley to Goiti Yamauchi.
That depth of experience, both in volume and caliber of opposition, is something Awad believes gives him an edge over Nallo.
"Experience is what I'll leverage to my benefit," Awad explained in an interview with MMA Empire. "Making real-time adjustments becomes much tougher without that kind of ring time. I've competed against the absolute best, and I've learned from my mistakes in numerous fights, always working to improve regardless of the outcome."
"As we approach this matchup, I hope to have corrected those errors and step into the cage to demonstrate why I've lasted this long in Bellator and why I'm still considered among the finest globally."
Nallo not phased my losing undefeated tag
Mota's victory cost Nallo his unbeaten streak, which had featured seven consecutive finishes without ever reaching the third round.
Nallo insists he moved past the loss quickly, confident that his abilities haven't diminished whether he carries an undefeated label or not.
"When you're competing against highly skilled opponents, you have to accept that unexpected things will occur," Nallo said.
"My assessment of my own abilities hasn't changed. I still consider myself just as skilled as any undefeated fighter. It simply didn't go my way on that particular day."
Faced with Awad's resume, Nallo is undoubtedly confronting the biggest test of his fledgling career.
After the loss, Nallo wasn't entirely certain what kind of opponent might emerge, but he welcomed the chance to take on someone of Awad's stature.
"It's a massive opportunity," Nallo shared. "I wasn't sure what sort of fight I'd get next, and to face someone as accomplished and battle-tested as Saad is a fantastic chance to prove myself to a wider audience."
Even though Awad has dropped four straight since October 2018, Nallo refuses to underestimate his opponent.
Combining his veteran savvy with proven skill, Nallo views Awad as a legitimate threat and anticipates a difficult contest when Thursday arrives.
"He understands the game, brings tremendous experience, has competed against elite talent, and remains an exceptional fighter on his own merits—I fully expect a hard-fought match," Nallo concluded.
"When you see a fighter with a string of recent losses, casual fans tend to dismiss that guy, but you don't underestimate someone with that kind of experience and skill level. I'm anticipating a brutal fight."
Awad thrives in the deep end
Fighting the full distance comes naturally to Awad—he's gone the distance in 11 bouts throughout his career.
Since Nallo hasn't yet been tested beyond two rounds, Awad feels confident that extending the fight gives him a significant edge.
"Nallo stays patient and waits for those openings—that's how he finds his knockouts. He'll press forward, make it seem like he's dictating the pace, and hide behind his jab. I'm not going to let him stay comfortable at range, I'm not going to telegraph my shots, and I'm not chasing takedowns," said Awad.
"My output is high—I throw a lot of punches per fight, which isn't Nallo's style. With two aggressive fighters where one applies more pressure, usually the other one cracks. I plan to wear him down. I've got great cardio, I'm recovering quicker now, and I'll drag him into deeper waters. I hope he can swim, because if he can't, he'll sink fast."
This bout marks the longest skid of Awad's career, surpassing his previous longest run of consecutive defeats, which stood at two.
Still, regardless of where he stands on paper, Awad insists his camp work hasn't changed at all—he trains with the same intensity whether he's riding a four-bout win streak or a losing streak.
"It's not fun to sit with that reality, but you have to accept it. No matter what, I give everything I've got and push myself to the max. We're not fighting for a single victory—we're fighting for championships," explained Awad.
"I worked just as hard during my four-win stretch. Now I'm on a losing streak, which is tough, but that's life. I had some close calls where I felt I should've gotten the decision, and maybe I picked fights I shouldn't have. But me? I don't back away from anyone."
Fight night will mark the first time both fighters compete without fans in the arena—an unusual situation that's become standard across sports following the outbreak of COVID-19 in March.
While Awad admits he loves the energy of a packed house, he suspects the empty venue might actually play into his hands.
"I thrive off the crowd's energy. When the fans get loud, I get fired up and look for early finishes. Sometimes it's helped me land those quick KOs, but other times it's pushed me to swing when I should've waited," Awad admitted.
"Without the noise, I can rely on my full toolkit. I'll be sharper mentally, more disciplined, and I can strike when it makes sense. I think it's going to be fascinating, and I expect to step up my game."
Nallo's Shoutouts
"I'd like to shout out everyone at Tristar Gym." Follow Nallo on social media: TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
Awad's Shoutouts
"I'd like to thank the guys at Millennia MMA, The Treigning Lab, Wrap Legacy for always having my back, Route 66 Meats, and to my wife for always taking care of me and keeping me in tip-top shape." Follow Awad on social media: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
