UFC on FOX 26's Abel Trujillo predicts quick finish of John Makdessi and his 'little fragile face'

WINNIPEG – Unsurprisingly, Abel Trujillo plans to head-hunt when he steps in the octagon with John Makdessi on Saturday at UFC on FOX 26.

Trujillo (15-7 MMA, 6-3 UFC), who meets Makdessi (14-6 MMA, 7-6 UFC) on the FS1-televised preliminary card prior at Bell MTS Place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is one of the most powerful hitters in a loaded UFC lightweight division. He intends on using that once again.

Makdessi hasn’t competed in more than a year since he suffered a “Knockout of the Year” candidate loss to Lando Vannata at UFC 206 in December 2016. The extended hiatus, paired with a change in training camps, is a lot for the Canadian to deal with, though, and because of that, Trujillo can only plot expectations for himself.

“It’s 50-50,” Trujillo told MMAjunkie. “Either he’s going to be a little bit broken, hesitant, or like, ‘Forget this, I’ve got to come back with a vengeance.’ It’s all on him. Only he knows. I’m coming the best I can, that’s all I can say about myself.”

Trujillo might not know what to expect out of his opponent, but he knows what to expect out of himself. “Killa” has delivered some big knockouts in his career, and he feels Makdessi will be vulnerable to his striking (or possibly even his submissions) early in the 155-pound bout.

“I think it’s going to be a first-round fight,” Trujillo said. “I don’t know how: KO, TKO, submission. I’m coming out the best I can. I know he has a little fragile face. But like I said, he could be coming out with a vengeance. He’s coming off a knockout, so we’ll see what he brings. I know what I’m bringing.”

For Trujillo, there’s a relief that comes with simply arriving at fight week. The 34-year-old has been part of the UFC roster for more than five years but has never been able to compete consistently. He’s made 10 octagon appearances but has had a remarkable 14 scratched along the way for a multitude of reasons.

It’s challenging to get through the hiccups, Trujillo said, but he’s always kept a positive mindset and keeps faith in the old adage of “everything happens for a reason.”

“You’ve got to keep positive,” Trujillo said. “That’s the ups and downs of the sport. Everything happens for a reason. The past is the past. The only thing that matters is the present and the future. It’s going down this weekend, so that’s the only thing that matters.”

One of the names on his lengthy list of canceled fights, coincidentally, is Makdessi. The pair was expected to face off at UFC 186 in April 2014, but Trujillo was forced to withdraw because of a broken arm. He said he hasn’t chased the matchup but was pleased to see the UFC opted to try it again several years later.

“I was supposed to have this fight a couple years ago, but I had to pull out for an injury,” Trujillo said. “I’m here now; the fight’s going down. Both of us healthy. I’m just looking to perform as best as I can.”

With only one fight this year and winless since May 2016, Trujillo is looking remind the world that he’s still a threat in the lightweight division. Given his history, Trujillo said it’s senseless to start mapping out his career two or three fights down the line. He just wants to put Makdessi away, and once that’s done, he’ll assess his next direction.

“I still have a lot to prove,” Trujillo said. “I have a lot to prove to myself. I’m taking this one fight at a time. I’ve got to put him out of the picture and then I move further up the ranks.”

For more on UFC on FOX 26, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.