Giving a fighter his first loss is not something new for Ricardo Ramos. The fun part of his next UFC bout is where its taking place.

Carcarcinha will be on UFCs second Fight Island card in Abu Dhabi on July 15, taking on undefeated featherweight Lerone Murphy. Carcacinha stopped Eduardo Garagorri inside one round in his last octagon appearance in Brazil, going 4-0 against unbeaten foes.

This is not something new for me, and I think its an extra weight on their shoulders, Ramos told MMA Fighting. They might say its not, that it motivates them, but Ive been there and I can say it is. I also believed that, so I think thats something I can explore.

Being undefeated brings a responsibility, and the fact that Ive been in that same position in the past gives me extra knowledge about them. Its an advantage for me.

Taking the zero away from someones record is a cool story to tell people, but Ramos tries not to get too involved with whoever stands across the eight-sided cage.

When I enter the octagon, thats simply me trying to impose my techniques against their techniques, he said. I try not to get emotionally connected with their stories and what they represent, but I cant say that knocking someone off the tracks doesnt have a different taste [laughs]. They are confident, they have it building after each win, and knowing that you were the guy that stopped him, that means something.

The UFC Fight Night card will take place in Abu Dhabis Yas Island, a series of four events designed to give opportunity to fighters outside the United States to compete during a global COVID-19 pandemic.

And it brings back a few childhood memories.

For me, Im going to the Mortal Kombat island, Im living something Ive played in the video games years ago, Ramos laughs. Going to Abu Dhabi Im a traveler, I love to travel, and going to Abu Dhabi and getting to know that place, sharing and learning from the people there, its going to be amazing. Were making history here. Ill be proud to tell this story to the next generation.

The end of that story will include a victory over Murphy, Carcacinha says, but the exact way it comes is not something he will even attempt to predict.

I dont know much about him, Ramos said. Hes pretty complete, much like the other athletes Ive fought before. Hes very technical on the feet, but every fight is unpredictable.

Ramos would try to envision the best path to a victory in mixed martial arts in the past, but it hasnt gone well in two of his 14 professional bouts, losing to Said Nurmagomedov and Manny Vazquez in his bantamweight days. Now, the Brazilian 145-pounder just goes with the flow.

Ive been changing the way I prepare for my fights, Ramos said. When we try to predict the future and what the other guy will do, that ends up affecting the way you prepare for a fight. Im working with the unpredictable now. I obviously watch his fights, but I try not to get too involved with it.

I have a team of coaches that break down my opponents and find patterns, but I focus more on my performances in the octagon and my physical and technical evolution. I dont wait for an opponent to look for evolution.

Murphy, who fought to a draw with Zubaira Tukhugov at UFCs only trip to Abu Dhabi in 2019, was victorious in every single one of his other amateur and professional mixed martial arts bouts. Unlike Ramos, most of his victories came by way of knockout.

You can say the submission is the best way (to win) statistically speaking, but Ive been working on other things and Ive proven to be a complete athlete, Ramos said. I can fight on the feet and on the ground. Unpredictability is always the best way. Ive seen that the ground game is a good path and submitting him would be great, but Ive seen many openings on the feet and a knockout is also quite possible.

Excerpt from:

Ramos flying to UFCs Mortal Kombat island to beat an unbeatable - MMA Fighting