Fighting octagon newcomer, UFC Fight Night 99's Magnus Cedenblad says 'names are overrated'

BELFAST, Northern Ireland – Despite a four-fight winning streak in the UFC middleweight division, Magnus Cedenblad said he isn’t particularly concerned with the fact he’s fighting a promotional newcomer at UFC Fight Night 99.

Cedenblad (14-4 MMA, 4-1 UFC), who fights Jack Marshman (20-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in the featured preliminary-card bout on Saturday’s UFC Fight Pass-streamed card at SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, said he wouldn’t have been upset with a more established or ranked opponent, but he doesn’t mind welcoming the former Cage Warriors champion to the octagon either.

“I commentated (on) Jack Marshman when he fought in Cage Warriors, and I think he’s a really good fighter, so I think it’s really interesting to watch,” Cedenblad today told MMAjunkie. “I was like, ‘OK, whatever.’ I think it’s a good matchup. I’m looking forward to it. Of course I want the big fights.

“He’s been dominating in Cage Warriors, he’s 20-5, he has more fights than me, and he has more wins than me. I look forward to it. It’s a big challenge. Sometimes I think names are overrated. Some of these guys, he comes from Cage Warriors, and he has like six (wins) in a row. He’s a dangerous fighter. I look forward to it.”

Every fighter at 185 pounds with at least four consecutive wins or more is either coming off a fight or currently booked against an opponent who’s ranked in the weight class. Even Krzysztof Jotko, whom Cedenblad submitted in the second round just three fights ago, has a bout scheduled against former title challenger Thales Leites at Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 100 event in Brazil.

Cedenblad would have every right to feel frustrated, but instead he’s taking it all in stride.

“Jotko is ranked No. 15 (in the official UFC rankings), and I beat him; I think I should be ranked as well,” Cedenblad said. “He’s done great. His last fight (against Tamdan McCrory) was amazing. He knocked out the guy. He’s looking really sharp, so nothing about that. But I think if I win this fight, I really deserve a top-15, top-10 (opponent) because I feel like if I beat five in a row, and I think in my last fight I show where my skills are at, and I think I dominated the fight. If I can dominate this and win in the same way, finish, I’ll have five straight, I’ll have four finishes, so I think I deserve a top-10 (opponent).”

In the past, Cedenblad has been critical of his own performances. His most recent victory, a second-round TKO of Garreth McLellan at UFC Fight night 87 in May, was more up to his standard, though, he said. He hopes to perform at a similar standard against Marshman, however, and if he does, he’ll expect a more noteworthy opponent in his division.

“I think (McLellan) was my best fight in the UFC, and that was close to the level I know I can perform; that was a good beginning,” Cedenblad said. “I think it was the beginning of me continuing on to the top. If I can nail it, if I can do what I’m capable of, then I know I can be top five in the UFC. I think that was the beginning of my journey.

“I continue to develop every day, and I’m just getting better and better. I’m so much better than that fight now. So I’m looking forward to Saturday and perform and show what I can do.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 99, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.