UFC welterweight Tim Means believes his emotions got the best of him in his loss to Daniel Rodriguez back in February at UFC Rio Rancho.
“This has been a weird year,” Means told The Scrap. “Going into that fight, I think six or seven times my opponent changed (only) to get someone signed down the week before. We buried two family members two weeks before my fight Matteo and Pete. You know I fought that fight angry and mad. I just didn’t do what I was supposed to do you know? I wasn’t fighting to win I was fighting to vent and keep my mind sane. If I learned anything from the first fight I have to keep my emotions in check and not fight angry.”
Means (29-12-1) looks to rebound against Laureano Staropoli on August 8 at UFC Fight Night. Despite having a clear edge in experience in the matchup, the 36-year-old knows the challenges his opponent brings to the table.
“He’s a good striker he likes to be in the pocket, ” Means said. “I feel his best attributes are his spinning techniques. He throws good spinning elbows off the cage and on breaks he throws good spinning back kicks and things of that nature. But right now man I’ve been rotating wins and losses. I just want to put some things together and move forward on this stuff. Try to get a winning streak going and get my name in that Top 10.”
Means added. “I’m expecting a ‘Fight of the Night’ maybe even submission of the night. I’ve been using a lot of wrestling in my last few fights. It sucks in the last fight I got dazed pretty good caught in a choke. I want to be more top-heavy and work my ground and pound and get the fights finished from there. Or at least wear him down a little bit and get back to striking. But I’m looking to get a finish but be evolved about these things and make good decisions.”
UFC Fight Night takes place on August 8. Former heavyweight title challenger Derrick Lewis faces Alexey Oleinik in the main event.
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