Manuel Torres looking climb UFC rankings with win against Drew Dober
Manuel Torres (15-3, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) aims to ignite his 2025 season with a victory over Dober
UFC lightweight
Seven wins by knockout, seven via submission
Fourteen first-round finishes
Manuel Torres (15-3, fighting out of Tijuana, Mexico) aims to ignite his 2025 season with a victory over Dober
UFC lightweight
Seven wins by knockout, seven via submission
Fourteen first-round finishes
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00I'm ready for the fight, the fight of the month.
00:07How has it been for you in Mexico City?
00:11The streets, people recognize you, you've been there, you know?
00:15The money, the performance, how is it?
00:19How has this part been for you?
00:23It's something cool, especially being close to home.
00:27First of all, how are you feeling?
00:38Big fight, common event slot.
00:40This is a big opportunity for your career, a home country.
00:43Talk to us about this opportunity and getting this common event shot.
00:46First of all, how do you feel fighting at home, with all the fans,
00:52Coestelar, big fight, how do you feel with all this situation?
00:57Hi, I'm very good, I feel very happy, proud of my work, proud to be in Coestelar.
01:07Very happy, very proud of my work and to be in a co-main.
01:21Very grateful also to UFC for putting me in a co-main.
01:25So, very happy with all the work and to actually have the situation.
01:30With a common event spot, do you feel more nerves or is it excitement?
01:34What does a common event bring as far as the emotion and feel?
01:55Up until this point, the emotion and excitement.
02:00But I guess up until the time that I come out, that's when the nerves are going to kick in.
02:06And Drew Dober, he seems to be a fighter very much like you, cut from the same cloth.
02:12A guy that goes out and likes to get into firefights and go to war.
02:16Is this the type of fight that excites you?
02:18And can we expect easily already a bonus fight of the night for this one?
02:29Can we say that this fight has potential?
02:34This fight of the night is going to be a war?
02:37Yes, it's going to be a fight of the night.
02:41Drew Dober is very explosive, so am I.
02:44But you know, I like to look for the end and get that bonus.
02:50We're going to give it our all.
02:59I'm always looking to finish the fight and we're going to go for it.
03:03We're going to try to get that bonus.
03:05And the last time we saw you, you had your first UFC loss coming against Ignacio Mahamondes.
03:10Curious, how do you feel about that performance looking back?
03:14And is there anything that you've learned, anything that you've applied moving forward that perhaps we'll see in this fight?
03:30Well, I've learned a lot.
03:33I've calmed down a lot.
03:36I've followed the strategy.
03:39I've calmed down a lot.
03:42A lot of lessons to be learned there.
03:45I think to be more chill with myself, calm down, and more focused on the strategy.
03:50I think that being calmer during the fight.
03:54Lastly, a prediction for your fight?
03:57I'm coming here to finish.
04:00I'm not going to leave anything to the judges.
04:27Well, it was very tough.
04:30I've been here in Mexico City for a while now to acclimatize.
04:33To be able to reach my height here in the city.
04:36To try not to get tired.
04:39And I'm going to do my best.
04:42I'm going to give it my all.
04:45I'm going to give it my all.
04:48I'm going to give it my all.
04:51I'm going to give it my all.
04:54I'm going to give it my all.
04:57I'm going to give it my all.
05:00Good luck
05:08Good luck
05:18Good luck
05:24I think in my style. I think in the stand up fight, concentrated and calm, I always stand out.
05:54Well in all my fights I think people have seen that I stand out a little bit, but right now we're fighting at the highest level in the world with the best fighters,
06:23so I have to be more intelligent, more mature, and give them a better performance as a fighter.
06:53You were undefeated in the UFC, what does that mean for you?
07:08Learning and moving forward, working on myself, and moving forward. I don't give up.
07:23The majority of Mexicans here are from the north, from the border. What do you talk about when you know you're going to fight in front of 20,000 people in Mexico City?
07:40It's an honor for us. It reflects all of our hard work and what we're doing well. It's been difficult, and it's very difficult to get here.
07:51Right now there are more opportunities, thanks to the UFC that is supporting the fighters. They're turning a lot to Mexico and Latin America.
08:01It's an honor to be here in front of you and represent the UFC. This is for history.
08:09What will people expect from you on Saturday?
08:13A better crazy guy.
08:24You always said you wanted to fight Paddy Pimbledon. Now Paddy is going to fight Michael Chandler.
08:30Do you think this fight will be the biggest challenge for Paddy in the UFC?
08:34I think so. It's going to be the biggest challenge. Paddy is new blood in the company. He has a lot of experience.
08:46I think he's going to win, but Michael Chandler is a legend. Be careful. I wouldn't bet, but it's a very good fight. Good luck to both of them.
09:00Maybe it's not worth talking about the things that could have happened, but if you had won the fight against Nacho, what path do you think you would have taken?
09:11You wouldn't be here, right?
09:13I wouldn't be here, or I would be fighting someone in the top 10. Who knows? I'm still the same. I'm going down that path. I'm going for everyone.
09:25In Mexico, when you were celebrating, was there a conflict in the stands?
09:40Yes, but I just hope they don't fight. I just hope they don't fight. I just hope they enjoy the fights in the cage.
09:53Carlos Mastache from Superluchas. All of your fights have been finalizations in the first round. Is that something we'll see this Saturday?
10:07Yes, it's on the list. If there's an opportunity, I'm going to take advantage of it. I'm ready for the next 3 rounds.
10:29Your opponent is hungry, so he's going to be a lot more dangerous. What do you expect from him? Strong exchanges to end this first round?
10:44He's hungry. He's a strong, explosive fighter. That's what I expect. I'm ready for that. He's hungry, but that's why we're here.
11:06Have you thought about a fight bonus?
11:10The win first, and then we'll see the bonus.
11:16Manuel, good afternoon. How are you? This is the second time that a fight is sold out in Mexico City. Last year and this year.
11:26You're going to fight in Cuestelar. What happened in September is behind you, but the UFC still has the confidence to put you in the poster.
11:36How does it feel that the promotion has this confidence in you?
11:39I'm very thankful to the UFC, Hunter, Shane Shelby, Dana White, and my team. I'm very happy. I've worked hard, and I'm going to give it my all.
11:55Speaking of your management team, Danny's fight was canceled, but Lacey is still there. How does it feel to have that support? It's an important role for the group, not just for you.
12:08I'm very happy for all the Mexicans. I feel very welcomed, very happy because my team is behind us in everything. They're supporting me in everything.
12:21I feel confident with Lacey as well. I feel very good, and I'm very happy for everyone that we're going to fight.
12:29One last question. How's the relationship with all the Mexicans in La Cartelera? Before the P.I. everyone was scattered in different gyms.
12:36I think right now there's more of them. They greet each other more. How does that feel? I feel like there's a beautiful camaraderie of everyone that's going to fight. Everyone wishing everyone success.
12:45Very good. It feels very good. I get along very well with everyone. I haven't seen Drew Dover, but I get along well with him. I get along well with my friends' opponents. I get along well with everyone.
12:59With the confidence you have in the UFC, with a victory, where do you think you'll be at the end of the year?
13:10At the end of the year, I think I'll be in the top 15.
13:18And after that?
13:20After that, I'll be in the top 5 or top 7. I'll jump right in. For the first 2 or 3.
13:32Manuel, good afternoon.
13:33Hi, good afternoon.
13:34What do you think about what's happening in the lightweight division and the recent arrival of Ilja Tupuria?
13:39Do you think he deserves to jump directly into the championship? What do you think about the rejection of the top 5?
13:48I think it's very exciting that Ilja Tupuria has made it to the most difficult division. He's in the most difficult division, but I don't think he has the opportunity to fight for the title.
14:07There are 2 or 3 people who have battled in the last 3 years to have that opportunity. I think he should fight for the top 5.
14:23If he wins the fight, it's very easy. I think he has the opportunity, but he has to have a fight before the title.
14:31Would you like to be the one to welcome him to the division?
14:34Yes, I'd love to.
14:44How do you see yourself dominating the fight? In the 3rd or 1st round?
14:50I always love to be in the 1st round, but right now I see myself ready for a war, for everything.
15:01I don't know, 1st or 2nd, all 3.
15:19I think they're photos.
15:49Is that it?
16:19Who was first?
16:49Who was second?