UFC on FOX 19's Santiago Ponzinibbio on Court McGee: 'I'll run him over'

Santiago Ponzinibbio faces a big test tomorrow night when he faces “TUF 11” winner Court McGee at UFC on FOX 19. However, Ponzinibbio thinks his style will simply be too much for McGee to handle.

Ponzinibbio (21-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and McGee (17-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) meet on the FOX-televised prelims ahead of the main card on FOX and following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass. The event takes place at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla.

McGee’s experience on the “TUF” stage doesn’t give him much of an edge as Ponzinibbio made it to the finals of “TUF: Brazil 2” before a broken hand forced him out of the bout.

While he has experienced mixed results during his time in the octagon, Ponzinibbio told MMAjunkie his time at American Top Team has helped him greatly in his evolution as a fighter.

“I’ve training at American Top Team for almost two years now,” Ponzinibbio said. I’ve evolved greatly as an athlete. And gladly I’ve been able to have great fights, regardless of the end result. I’ve had five fights in the UFC. Even my two losses were good fights. Despite losing to Lorenz Larkin, we received the Fight of the Night bonus. And I felt I had the potential to have won those fights. They were good experiences, regardless. Now I’m in a great phase in my career. I’m a striker. I’m a natural knockout artist. I also won my three fights on ‘The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.’ It’s my style – my aggressive game. Now I have a new challenge ahead of me. Hopefully everything will work out and I’ll win by knockout again.”

Despite Ponzinibbio’s edge in total professional bouts, McGee has almost twice as much as experience in the octagon. That, Ponzinibbio said, will not make the difference when the two meet in their welterweight clash.

“Court McGee is very tough and very experienced. He’s a ‘TUF’ winner and a long-time UFC veteran. But I’m ready for anyone in our weight class. I don’t worry about my opponents. I’m more concerned with what I’ll do. I’ll move forward like always and I’ll run him over. I don’t know if I’ll beat him by knockout, submission or decision. I just know I’ll beat him. He has good stamina, but so do I. It will be a great fight. I am sure of that. I have faith I’ll be victorious.”

While that statement makes Ponzinibbio sound as though he is ready to promise the world a victory, he backed off slightly when pressed on the issue. Instead focusing on pleasing the fans with his performance.

For more on UFC on FOX 19, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.