Video: Louis Smolka discusses 'emotional rollercoaster' leading to UFC Fight Night 76 headliner

DUBLIN – Louis Smolka is ready to embrace his first UFC main event opportunity, even if it was totally expected until today.

Smolka was bumped to Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 76 headliner just three days prior to the event after Joseph Duffy suffered a head injury and was unable to meet Dustin Poirier in the originally planned UFC Fight Pass main event at Dublin’s 3Arena.

In need of a new fight atop the bill, UFC officials called on Smolka (9-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) and Ireland’s Paddy Holohan (12-1-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) to jump into the main event spot. “Da Last Samurai” said he was shocked by the opportunity.

“It’s been an emotionally rollercoaster,” Smolka told MMAjunkie. “It’s typical fight week, right? A lot of changes happening, people getting injured, whatever – whatever the case may be I’m just ready to go out there and do my job.”

Smolka is taking the situation in stride. He was prepared to compete in front of a very pro-Holohan crowd, and whether it’s the last fight of the night or not, he said his strategy doesn’t change.

“It’s still the same approach, I’m still the same guy and we’re going to do the exact same thing,” Smolka said. “But it is nice to be the main event; it’s pretty cool.”

Smolka said he pushed for the fight to be changed to five rounds, but given the short-notice nature of the contest; it will remain a three-round affair. Nevertheless, Smolka will receive more exposure than ever before after his first four UFC contest took place on the preliminary card.

A UFC main event represents the opportunity to achieve a new level of recognition and success in the sport. The Hawaiian fighter might be unheralded to most, but he believes he’ll be far from an unknown if his bout with Holohan goes according to plan.

“I don’t really know what to tell you. I’m pretty unpredictable – that’s my style. I just do things that you’re not expecting, that you’re not ready for and my entire style. I like to push the pace and I’m here to fight, I’m here to finish.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 76, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.