Zak Ottow happy to jump into welterweight division's deep end after UFC Fight Night 100

SAO PAULO – Zak Ottow made quite the statement in his UFC debut, scoring a decision win over 16-time UFC veteran Josh Burkman. Now Ottow wants to double down with a victory over grappling world champion Sergio Moraes.

“Getting that first win against Burkman, I’m probably not going to be thrown in right away against … low-tier fighters,” Ottow told MMAjunkie. “That just won’t happen. I’m going to be in the middle of the pack or above that, so here I am, fighting another tough opponent, and a win over this would start to put me right where I want to be, you know?”

Ottow (14-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Moraes (10-2-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) meet on the main card of UFC Fight Night 100, which takes place Saturday at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo. It airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

The contest comes just seven weeks after Ottow’s promotional debut, but the 29-year-old welterweight said he didn’t hesitate to accept the offer.

“I’m familiar with the matchup,” Ottow said. “I’m familiar with all the guys in the welterweight division, just doing my homework on everybody all the time just to pick up techniques and things. So I’ve watched all of Sergio’s fights before. I was familiar with his style and how he is as a fighter.

“I did have to think about it for a little bit. I talked it over with my coaches and things like that before making the decision, but shortly after getting the call, I said, ‘Yeah, I want the fight.'”

Ottow is well-versed in the grappling game, boasting 10 submission victories among his 14 career wins to date. But tangling with a world champion grappler like Moraes can be a completely different story.

Still, Ottow said he’s confident he won’t be outclassed in any situation.

“Awesome competitor, great jiu-jitsu practitioner,” Ottow said of Moraes. “A lot of times, even if he’s losing in these fights, he’ll come back hard in the third round and (is) able to get the win. He’s shown to be hard to put away. He’s had some knockdowns, but he keeps coming back. It’s going to be a tough fight.

“He’s got a good record in the uFC, but I think I just bring a more well-rounded approach to the game, and I don’t think anybody in the welterweight division moves like I do with my switching stances. I think my movement is going to be very hard for him to pick up on, and I see it being an early night.”

If Ottow can make good on his prediction, it will be a heck of a start to his UFC run. Currently boasting a five-fight winning streak, back-to-back wins over recognizable names is no easy task for a UFC newcomer, but Ottow believes he’s up to the task.

“I see a late first-round TKO,” Ottow said. “I’m going to take my time a little bit, figure him out, but I think my shots are going to find where they need to, and I’m going to start picking him apart.”

For more from Ottow, check out the video above.

And for more on UFC Fight Night 100, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.