While more confident in striking, jiu-jitsu proponent Leandro Issa knows where he’s best

Since taking up with Singapore-based MMA team Evolve, Brazilian Leandro Issa is no longer a one-dimensional fighter.

But that doesn’t change the fact that his base remains jiu-jitsu, and the mat is where he feels most comfortable.

“I always try to bring the fight to the ground,” Issa (11-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who meets Russell Doane (12-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 34, told MMAjunkie. “So I tend to go for submissions.”

Issa meets Doane on the opening bout of Saturday’s event, which takes place at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre and streams live on UFC Fight Pass.

Issa was looking for a new source of adrenaline when he took up MMA eight years ago. Adding punches and strikes certainly upped the danger level in competition, but initially, they didn’t motivate him to become proficient in the standup game.

“When I lived in Brazil, (my training partner) Braga Neto and I would always train together, with no gi,” he said. “We’d wrestle together. And we’d accept MMA bouts without knowing any striking.”

Seven of Issa’s 11 wins come by way of submission. Not surprisingly, two of his three losses come by way of TKO.

Issa had to fly halfway around the world in order to get the help he needed to become more confident in throwing punches and kicks. At Evolve, he took up with seasoned fighters such as UFC vet Rafael dos Anjos and submission ace Shinya Aoki. More importantly, the gym boasted dozens of trained muay Thai fighters.

“Thanks to my time at Evolve, now my striking is much improved,” Issa said.

Issa said he and his coaches have analyzed Doane and concluded he is a good striker who enjoys the ground. Doane, a former KOTC champ an interim Tachi Palace Fights champ, has six career knockouts and four submissions.

“We’ve been working with our MMA head coach, Heath Sims, who comes from wrestling,” Issa said. “We’re also working with Chatri Sityodtong, who assists with strategy. Here, we have several Thai fighters. Plus, we have six Brazilian black belts who teach at Evolve. We’re training together, hoping for a good result.”

In tomorrow’s case, that means getting into the clinch and earning a takedown, where opportunities await.

For more on UFC Fight Night 34, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.