• UFC 142

Brazil holds no fears for bonus collector Etim

Terry Etim lost to Rafael dos Anjos in Abu Dhabi © UFC

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Terry Etim has poured cold water on the suggestion that he may be troubled by the climate in Brazil when he faces Edson Barboza, insisting he'd love to walk away with the Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night cheques at UFC 142.

Only once in his career has Etim fought outside of Europe or the United States, when he travelled to Abu Dhabi to fight Rafael dos Anjos. That night ended in defeat via submission, leaving plenty of observers to suggest that the Liverpudlian suffered in the warm conditions.

Now he heads to Brazil to fight the undefeated Barboza, knowing victory returns him to the cusp of lightweight title contention - a status he held prior to an 18-month absence from the sport. Previously Forrest Griffin has been extremely vocal regarding the severe effect that fighting in Brazil had on his diet, but Etim anticipates no problems.

"After a defeat a lot of fighters make excuses but I was absolutely flying, I was super-fit, I won't take anything away from Rafael Dos Anjos - that night he was the better man," Etim told ESPN.

"It was nothing to do with the climate or anything like that. It was just his night.

"I've been out to Brazil before, I know what to expect. I've got a lot of friends out there so I'm excited about it more than anything else."

The matchup itself sees Barboza - holder of two Fight of the Night awards from his last two bouts, up against Etim - winner of three Submission of the Night cheques from his last four. The Brit momentarily allowed himself to ponder the prospect of winning both come January 14.

"I think the fans understand I'm always going to try to end a fight. I think of 15 fights, 14 haven't gone the distance. Whenever I get people in trouble, they always seem to shoot in on me, so I just take their head off with a guillotine. I'm well-versed on the ground so people get a shock when the fight goes there.

"How about we have Fight of the Night and I get Submission of the Night as well? I wouldn't mind that!"

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