After Loss in Short-Notice Debut, Kyle Nelson Ready to Show He Belongs at UFC Ottawa

After Kyle Nelson stepped in on just days’ notice to fight Diego Ferreira at UFC 231, the Canadian believed he finally made it. He was set for his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut against a top-20 lightweight and had a chance to show just how good he is. 


 In the early going, “The Monster” did exactly that by living up to his nickname. However, he ultimately lost by TKO in the second frame. Nelson will return to the Octagon at UFC Ottawa on May 4. The Canadian was ecstatic to get another fight, and to be back at his natural weight class of featherweight.


 “I think taking a fight on short notice was doing a favor for them,” Nelson said to Sherdog.com. “Once they saw how I performed, I think they knew right away. After that fight, they all said they would love to have me back. They saw the talent I have and I’m pretty excited to show them what I can do.”


 Nelson is thrilled to be back at featherweight.

“It is perfect to be competing at 145, my natural weight class,” said Nelson. “I am actually undefeated at 145. I think I will be able to showcase all my skills and show the fans and the UFC why I belong here.”

Meanwhile, something Nelson did differently for this camp was spending time in Las Vegas at the UFC Performance Institute and other gyms.

“It’s awesome to have a full camp to get ready,” Nelson explained. “I have always been in great shape and now that I have some extra resources to me like the UFC PI and stuff like that it definitely helps take my training camps to the next level.


 “We came down to Vegas in February to check out the PI and check out some of the gyms in Vegas to see if it would be suitable for a training camp,” added the featherweight. “Everything worked out awesome. All the gyms around are great so we decided to come back for the full camp.”

Ultimately, “The Monster” is just glad to get another fight again inside the Octagon. The fact that it’s in Canada is just icing on the cake. He is just a few hours away by car and expects to have a ton of fans in attendance. For him, he is really treating this as his official UFC debut. 


 “As far as a UFC debut, I will actually be able to debut Kyle ‘The Monster’ Nelson,” explained the fighter. “All my skills I will be able to showcase. My weight class and I have had some time to prepare. So yeah this is really when the fans and the UFC get to see [me] for the first time.”

In the end, Nelson is confident he will pick up his first win in the UFC when he takes on Matt Sayles. “The Monster” doesn’t believe his opponent is that good and will show there are levels to this game. 

"I think I am at a different level than he is used to seeing,” he said. “He had some success in the [Dana White Tuesday Night Contender Series] but lost his debut. I just think he is not going to be prepared for my technique and skill that I am going to bring.”