Banha against Sokoudjou / Photo: Josh Hedges.
Since being tauted as one of the most promising athletes in the light heavyweight division, Luiz “Banha” Cane’s success dropped by the wayside with back-to-back losses. This Saturday at UFC 128 he will be looking to get back on top against Eliot Marshall, a fighter coming off a three-fight win streak.
“My problem is that sometimes I bring too much emotion into my fights, and I learned, in the hardest way possible, that that is a mistake. Against Cyrille Diabate (last fight) I was doing well, I managed a knockdown early in the fight, but when we went back to our feet and clinched I saw blood pouring from my nose. At that very moment I threw strategy to the wind, and everyone saw what happened after that. It’s stupid, but it’s true,” he says in analysis.
“Going without a fight (from May 2010 to March 2011) was important for me to focus 100% on my work. Joe Silva (UFC matchmaker) gave me enough time to organize my life after undergoing nose surgery, and then I moved to my new team, The Armory. I’m much more motivated because of Joe’s understanding regarding my situation,” adds Banha.
On this Saturday’s fight, the fighter promises to put on a show:
I’m not going to put off going for the knockout out of fear of putting myself at risk after suffering two losses. What I learned and am working on here at The Armory is to fight smart. My objective hasn’t changed, I want the tapout or knockout,” he says in finishing.
Check out the complete card:
UFC 128
Newark, New Jersey
March 19, 2011
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Jon Jones (light heavyweight-title fight)
Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland
Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus
Nate Marquardt vs. Dan Miller
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub
Luiz Cane vs. Eliot Marshall
Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani
Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle
Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau
Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland
Raphael Assunção vs. Erik Koch
Nick Catone vs. Costantinos Philippou