Ex-McGregor opponent Diego Brandao: 'Crazy guy' Jose Aldo will 'smash him' at UFC 194

TOKYO – Diego Brandao says he’s doing what’s necessary to get back in the octagon with top featherweights such as interim UFC champ Conor McGregor.

Brandao (19-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) suffered a first-round TKO loss to McGregor at UFC Fight Night 46 in July 2014, a defeat that marked his second loss in a row. The Brazilian rebounded with a strong victory over Jimy Hettes in April, and he’s looking to continue his winning ways against Katsunori Kikuno (22-7-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 75.

UFC Fight Night 75 takes place Sunday at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, but airs in the U.S. on Saturday due to the time difference. Brandao vs. Kikuno airs on the FOX Sports 1-televised main card following prelims on FOX Sports 2.

“The Ultimate Fighter 14” winner says he’s made significant changes to ensure he leaves the octagon with his sixth UFC win. The most prominent of those changes includes leaving his longtime home in the United States to return to training roots in his native Brazil.

“After I lost (back-to-back fights) I started to train back in Brazil; I think I needed that type of guys – Brazilians who had skills – by my side,” Brandao told MMAjunkie. “The type of guy I am, the type of fighter I am, I like to fight. I don’t know how to do things like Conor (McGregor). My thing is not like that. My thing is like Wanderlei Silva, (Mike) Tyson. I go hard.

“I lost a little bit of that mentally after living in the U.S. for 10 years. That’s the reason I went back (to Brazil) is because I don’t fight like that. I want to fight like that guy again, and I’m going to start (to) kill (my opponents) one by one.”

Brandao is not currently ranked in the latest NOS Energy Drink MMA featherweight rankings. He says his goal is to get there, though, and work his way toward a title fight at 145 pounds.

There have been been ups and downs in Brandao’s career leading to his upcoming contest with Kikuno. He says he’s ready to show those downs are in the past and prove why he should be taken seriously as a contender.

“I’m going to continue until I fight for the title; this is my dream now,” Brandao says. “I’m going to continue to fight every one of you guys (in the division) until I get my title fight. …Every champion need to lose and come back and this is my time now to come back and be strong forever.”

If Brandao finds his way to the top of the featherweight division, he’ll likely cross paths again with McGregor. “The Notorious” meets champ Jose Aldo in a title unification bout at UFC 194 in December in a contest that will determine the top dog in the weight class.

Although McGregor convincingly defeated Brandao in the past, he believes his countryman Aldo will take care of business when the pair clash in their highly anticipated championship showdown.

“Aldo is going to smash Conor; Aldo is from my hometown and I know he’s a crazy guy,” Brandao says. “He’s not going to get under his skin. I don’t think the guy is going to be scared. …I don’t want to say Conor is a good guy or Conor sucks because I lose to him, but I want to rematch this guy and I’m going to have my chance.”

Before Brandao can move toward the reality of a title fight against either Aldo or McGregor, he must first win the matchup in front of him. Both of Kikuno’s UFC losses have come by first-round knockout, and Brandao says he’s eager to hand the Japanese fighter another defeat due to strikes.

Brandao says he’s unhappy with the way in which he’s performed in some of his UFC outings. However, the return to Brazil for a complete training camp has refueled his desire to inflict painful victories over his opponents.

“I don’t want to be smarter; I do in a good way, but I’m hungry and I feel like I have a lot to prove inside the cage,” Brandao says. “Sometimes I hold myself too much in there. I want to feel tired, I want to fight and put on a great show now. I want to be the Diego Brandao from ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ Season 14 and knock out everybody.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 75, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.