Chris Daukaus (12-4, 11 finishes) returns to the octagon Saturday for his second consecutive Combat Night time headliner as he faces Curtis Blaydes (15-3, 10 finishes) as heavyweights as soon as once more high the invoice for the UFC’s return to Columbus, Ohio. The former Philadelphia police officer just lately joined the Publish Combat Interview with The Publish’s Scott Fontana.
Q: What has work/life been like now that it’s been just a few months because you formally resigned as a police officer?
A: Private life: It’s been actually good, particularly with the spouse and my son. My son completely loves me being residence on a regular basis. … I don’t have to fret about lacking a coaching session or lacking a lifting session due to work or any type of occasions occurring within the metropolis.
Q: What abilities out of your earlier profession provide help to in your preventing profession?
A: It’s simply coping with that nervousness and that stress. It’s extra of, I’d say, the psychological facet of the game than the precise bodily points of the game. You’re occupied with this occasion in eight to 10 weeks, after which it’s getting nearer and nearer. Lots of people can’t cope with that nervousness and that anticipation of performing when all eyes are on you. It’s lots for some folks, and with my earlier profession, all eyes had been on me on a regular basis, it doesn’t matter what I used to be doing.
Q: Have been you stunned to be scheduled for an additional important occasion so quickly after your first, coming off the knockout loss to Derrick Lewis in December?
A: Yeah. I actually didn’t count on that. In my mentality, the UFC gave me a possibility to important occasion. I misplaced, clearly, in dramatic style. And I figured that I’d not be seeing any type of important occasion or co-main occasion standing for some time till I acquired just a few wins underneath my belt again within the division. However apparently, the UFC has totally different plans.
Q: Past the plain, what went fallacious in opposition to Lewis?
A: it was strictly my mistake so far as permitting myself to get backed up in opposition to the cage. There was no outdoors contributing components in my private life. And [in] my coaching camp, there have been no accidents or something like that. There was no added stress with the primary occasion standing, the additional cameras that had been following me round, that was fantastic. I can drown all that out in my head, and that’s not going to play an element. And actually, it was only a mistake on my half in my techniques. I wanted to get smarter in my protection, and Derrick Lewis capitalized on that.
Q: What kind of feelings and ideas undergo your head within the days and weeks after a knockout?
A: It’s actually horrible, to be trustworthy with you. You begin second guessing every part. You begin second guessing, particularly … That was the primary struggle after leaving the police division, so there’s clearly that doubt that crept in my head about, you already know, I simply left my job. I simply left my profession of 10 years to go pursue this. And I get flatlined on the primary go round. It’s that doubt that you’ve got of, am I actually adequate to maintain myself within the UFC? Ought to I’ve not give up my job. It’s simply all huge what ifs, and it’s simply that self-doubt. However I handled that. I acquired myself again. I stayed in that darkish spot for a bit of bit as a result of I don’t wish to really feel that once more, and I don’t wish to simply brush that off prefer it was a fluke or something like that, or he acquired fortunate. No. He beat me. That’s what he does, and I’ve to just accept that. And I accepted that, and I moved on. I used to be in that darkish spot for a bit of bit, and it was robust, man. It was actually robust. I misplaced all types of motivation simply to get again into the health club a bit of bit. There’s some days the place I simply didn’t wish to do something, man. It was simply actually unhealthy. However I acquired by way of it. I used to be there. I accepted the very fact, and now I’m able to go.
Q: You’re recognized on your energy placing, however you’re a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt as effectively? Do you’re feeling extra harmful standing or grappling?
A: My confidence in each ability units are just about equal. I simply haven’t actually proven the bottom recreation. And to be trustworthy, it’s not like I can’t take it to the bottom. I simply actually like punching folks within the face.
Q: Did you and your brother Kyle, a UFC middleweight, get into many fights with one another rising up?
A: On a regular basis. … I used to be larger, however I used to be simply fats, so I’d simply get on high of him and simply sit on high of him, and he’d cry. When he was youthful, when he was like 5 or 6, I’d be doing that. So I used to be like 8 or 9.
Q: What’s the good Philly cheesesteak order?
A: You’ve acquired to go to Steve’s [Prince of Steaks]. I like Whiz with out. So it’s Cheez Whiz with out fried onions. However I additionally do American [cheese] with out. I’ll do onions; it’s not my first selection. … Whiz with out, spicy fries with a aspect of cheese and a root beer. That’s the go-to for me.
Q: You possibly can struggle anybody in historical past. Who do you decide?
A: I’ll both struggle Abe Lincoln — and my reasoning behind that’s he’s a taller man, longer attain, it’d be fascinating to try to get in on him, and apparently Abe Lincoln was a extremely good wrestler, so, I’d additionally like to check myself in opposition to that. And likewise Teddy Roosevelt as a result of Teddy Roosevelt was a boxer and all that. He apparently boxed in the White House, so I’d undoubtedly like to check myself in opposition to that man.
Q: Teddy Roosevelt additionally was recognized to have educated in judo.
A: Actually? Nicely then, Teddy Roosevelt simply went to No. 1 over Abe Lincoln.
Q: What’s the best approach in fight sports activities?
A: I like throws, man, like judo throws off the cage. These are actually good, and foot journeys as effectively, foot sweeps.
Q: Is there an amazing MMA film?
A: No. No. I imply, the premise behind the “By no means Again Downs,” the premise is OK. nevertheless it’s simply unhealthy performing and unhealthy struggle scenes. “Warrior,” the premise behind that “Warrior” film [is] a bit of loopy, the entire preventing two nights in a row. That wouldn’t occur.
Q: Favourite film?
A: “Shaun of the Useless” and “Sizzling Fuzz.”
Q: Favourite track?
A: I don’t actually have one. I like jazz as a result of it jogs my memory of my grandfather.
Q: Favourite online game?
A: I’ll let you know what online game I hate: I hate God rattling “Elden Ring.” I’m enjoying that proper now, and that factor is the worst recreation on this planet. However [my] favourite video video games: I like “Mario Social gathering” or “Mario Kart.”
Q: What’s an ideal day for you that doesn’t contain preventing?
A: It’s both going to Disney World with my household and waking up, going to the parks, having fun with it, consuming, going to Epcot, ingesting, having time using rides. Or happening the shore, hanging out on the seaside all day, watching my son go within the ocean, constructing sandcastles and going out to the boardwalk, enjoying video games, just like the quarter video games with my spouse. We’re tremendous aggressive.
