UFC 197's frustrated, angry Andre Fili ready to prove he's one of best in world

LAS VEGAS – When he signed with the UFC, Andre Fili was a highly touted featherweight prospect from an elite team.

It didn’t take the Team Alpha Male product long to show his potential, either. In his promotional debut at UFC 166, he stopped Jeremy Larsen with a second-round TKO. But after that, he ran into one of the best in the world in Max Holloway. The submission loss became part of a win-one-lose-one pattern for the Californian.

But Saturday to open the pay-per-view main card of UFC 197, Fili (15-3 MMA, 3-2 UFC) has a chance to put together his first UFC winning streak when he meets Yair Rodriguez (6-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC).

UFC 197 takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas with a main card on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass. East’s fight with Harris closes the UFC Fight Pass-streamed prelims.

After getting back in the win column in November with a bonus-winning TKO of Gabriel Benitez in Mexico, it started to make Fili understand what he believes his place is in the MMA world.

“I have a lot to prove. I’m very angry. I’m very frustrated,” Fili told MMAjunkie on Thursday at a media day in support of UFC 197. “I need to show people I’m one of the best guys in the world. I believe I’m one of the best guys in the world. I fought against Max Holloway, who’s the No. 3 guy in the world. I know where I stand, and I need to prove that. I’m not a prelim fighter. I’m not a top-50 fighter. I’m a top-10 fighter right now, and I’ll be a top-five fighter within the next year.

“And I’m going to be a world champion. I need to prove these things. I’m not a guy to sit and talk a lot. I just want to fight and knock guys out and prove I’m one of the best guys in the world.”

He’s hoping a win over Rodriguez will start to make a lot of other people believe that, as well.

Check out the video above for more from Fili ahead of UFC 197.

And for more on UFC 197, check out the UFC Events section of the site.