UFC 210's Gregor Gillespie: 'I've only got to get lucky once' against Andrew Holbrook

BUFFALO, N.Y. – UFC lightweight Gregor Gillespie embraces the concept that, as a wrestler, he’ll usually be able to control the position in which his fights take place.

Gillespie (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) said that will be the case for Saturday’s UFC 210 showdown with Andrew Holbrook (12-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC). The NCAA Division national champion wrestler from Edinboro University intends to lean on his strengths, and it’s up to his opponent to stop him.

“I’m not just a fighter, but a persistent person,” Gillespie told MMAjunkie. “If I want something, I’ll do what I’ve got to do to get it. If it means I have to take 20 shots to get one, I’ll do it. The good thing about my personality, especially as a fighter, is (my opponents) have to get lucky stopping me every time whereas I’ve only got to get lucky once.”

UFC 210 takes place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Gillespie vs. Holbrook is the featured UFC Fight Pass preliminary-card bout prior to the televised prelims on FS1 and pay-per-view main card.

The UFC has recently used the final bout on the UFC Fight Pass portion early prelims to push a matchup it thinks fans will check out on the subscription digital service. Gillespie has been placed on that platform despite just one UFC appearance, but he said it doesn’t bring any additional pressure.

“It feels like any other fight,” Gillespie said. “Obviously there’s some level of performance anxiety. I think that’s helped me. In my case, I think it helps. If I didn’t feel like I do, something would be wrong.”

There’s plenty of additional weight Gillespie could put on his shoulders if he focused on it. One of those is being an undefeated fighter, an unbeaten run that was extended in his UFC debut with a unanimous-decision victory over Glaico Franca at UFC Fight Night 95 in September.

Gillespie said he doesn’t obsess over his perfect record, but he intends to keep it as long as possible.

“I’ve had a good record since I started,” Gillespie said. “Once you’re 1-0, you’re undefeated, right? So let’s just keep the ball rolling. Same game plan, different body. Let’s just keep racking them up. That’s the game plan.”

All in all, confidence is Gillespie’s best attribute as he approaches his second UFC contest. He’s confident in his skill set and his ability to perform, but perhaps most importantly, he’s confident in the preparation and strategy his coaches are sending him to the octagon with.

“My coaches do all the studying, and they train me accordingly,” Gillespie said. “I have full faith in what will work, and I don’t question it. I try to be as receptive as possible in my training, and I don’t like to think too much about what the other guy is going. It takes away from me worrying about what I do well.”

For more on UFC 210, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.