Esteban Ribovics hopes a win over Nasrat Haqparast gets him into UFC's lightweight top 15
LAS VEGAS – Esteban Ribovics knows the test in front of him Saturday is against someone with significantly more experience – and that's just what he's hoping pays off.
Ribovics (14-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) takes on Nasrat Haqparast (17-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) in a lightweight bout on the UFC Fight Night 253 (ESPN+) main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Ribovics thinks a win, which would be his fourth straight, would be a ticket to the next level.
'I think a win over him is going to take me closer, or take me into the top 15 of the division,' Ribovics said Wednesday at a media day for the event.
The experience thing, he thinks will only play a factor up to a certain point. After that, he's banking on some intangibles.
'He has a lot more fights than me. He has a lot more experience in the UFC. But I want the glory. I'm going for the glory. And besides the experience, I want it more than him,' Ribovics said. 'I always say (my fights are) going to be bang-bang. I am not sure if he's going to go out and trade, but I am ready for that.'
After a 90-second KO win on DWCS in 2022 got him into the UFC, his 11-0 unbeaten record was spoiled with a loss to Loik Radzhabov in his promotional debut.
But since then, he has wins over Kamuela Kirk, Terrance McKinney, and a Fight of the Night split decision over Daniel Zellhuber this past September. Saturday will give him three fights in a little more than nine months, and that's the kind of activity level Ribovics is hoping for.
'I want to fight three times this year,' he said. 'I usually fight two, but I want to do it three times this year. I know fighting three times is going to get me to my goal faster that way.'
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie's event hub for UFC Fight Night 253.
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