JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Fight week brought forward a big change for Mark Madsen, who now finds himself competing in the opening bout of the UFC 273 main card.
The undefeated Madsen (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) faces Vinc Pichel in a lightweight contest that was originally set to take place on the early prelims of the event. However, after some last-minute changes to the card, Madsen and Pichel (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) were elevated to kick off the pay-per-view, providing an opportunity to shine in front of a larger audience.
“I believe in staying in the moment, enjoying the moment, and really appreciating all the things that are happening as they happen,” Madsen told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I don’t take anything for granted. Not one thing.”
The change is a welcome one for Madsen, who enters just his fourth fight in the UFC. Pichel, a winner of three straight, represents one of the toughest challenges in Madsen’s run with the promotion thus far, but the Olympic wrestler does not seem too concerned with what his opponent will try to do on Saturday.
“We can go to the gym any given day,” Madsen said. “I will out-work him, out-lift him, out-perform him every given day of the week. I’m a three-time Olympian, Olympic medalist, five-time world medalist. Listen, you go anywhere in the world and ask a wrestler if they know Mark O. Madsen, if they know what I do, my strength, they’ll tell you.
“I mean, I know he’s a strong fighter in the UFC division, but you got to keep in mind that I’ve been wrestling with the best in the world in the toughest sport out there, wrestling, my entire life. So, I’m confident about my own strength.”
Check out the full media day interview with Madsen in the video above.
