UFC 168’s ‘Daffy Duck’ believes Bobby Voelker will be on back, staring at lights

LAS VEGAS – At just 22 years old, William Macario is one of the youngest fighters on the UFC roster. And while UFC 168 opponent Bobby Voelker believes Macario’s young age will be the key to his undoing, “Patolino” sees things entirely different.

“Despite being young, I have amassed a lot of experience in MMA, boxing, muay Thai and jiu-jitsu,” Macario told MMAjunkie in his native Portuguese. “I only have 11 MMA bouts, but that’s not the only sport in which I’ve competed. I think he’ll be surprised with me.

“I’ve matured a lot. If he stands and trades, he’ll be knocked out for a fact. He knows it. That’s why he will try to avoid exposing himself.”

Macario (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Voelker (24-10 MMA, 0-2 UFC) meet on the MMAjunkie-streamed preliminary card of Saturday’s UFC 168 event, which takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The rest of the card airs on pay-per-view and FOX Sports 1.

Macario was a cast member on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2.” He entered the season as an undefeated prospect. With three victories to open the welterweight tournament, Macario advanced to the finals of the bracket but was submitted by show winner Leonardo Santos. It was a disappointing night for Macario, but he believes he’s addressed the faults he identified from that performance.

“We always learn from our mistakes,” Macario said. “Every combat (bout) is a learning experience, and we always examine our losses more closely to see where we went wrong. Everyone has flaws and weaknesses that can be worked on. I do this on a daily basis. I constantly seek to improve myself.

“My loss was very helpful. It allowed me to improve my fighting skills, as well as my training. Some defeats are for the best. This allowed me mature some more.”

Saturday marks Macario’s first time competing outside his native Brazil. He’ll be a new face for many fans, but with his instantly recognizable blond hair, that face may be one they remember.

“I always dye my hair yellow,” Macario said. “It’s my trademark now. I keep it somewhat yellow during the year, and I fully dye it before each bout.”

And then, of course, there’s the nickname. A moniker he’s carried since he was 13 years old, “Patolino” is the Portuguese name of famous Warner Bros. cartoon character Daffy Duck.

“In one episode, Daffy Duck got his bill shot off,” Macario said. “A friend of mine joked that I looked like Daffy Duck with his bill missing. A year or two later, I saw that cartoon, and I had to agree with him.”

Of course, etching yourself in fans’ minds isn’t all that valuable if you’re not capable of getting positive results in the cage. Despite a pair of disappointing losses in his first two UFC appearances, Voelker is a durable foe who never hesitates to stand toe-to-toe. With 34 professional contests to his name, the experience edge definitely lies on Voelker’s side. But Macario doesn’t think it’s going to matter. Training in capoeira and muay Thai since he was just 6, “Patolino” believes he’s destined for a knockout win in what he considers his real UFC debut.

“This is my big-stage debut,” Macario said. “On the other had, he might lose his job with one more loss. There’s a lot of pressure on him, and that only benefits me. Being young is an advantage, too. If he thinks he can tire me out on the second or third round, he’ll find out that I never stop.

“I’m throwing everything at him. I hope he knows that despite my youth, I do have a lot of fight experience. I think he has no chance with me. He’ll try to play it safe because he knows my potential, but I have all the tools to beat him. By going up against me, he risks waking up staring at the lights.”

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