Ian Heinisch: Lessons Learned, Not Losses
The ordering process for Ultimate Fighting Championship pay-per-views has changed: UFC 245 is only available on ESPN+ in the U.S.
UFC 241 was a setback for Ian Heinisch. The No. 10 ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight feels he was not himself in his loss to Derek Brunson. However, he doesn’t view the second defeat of career as a loss, but a learning experience. He plans to take those lessons into his bout on Dec. 14 at UFC 245 inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, where he faces No. 14-ranked middleweight Omari Akhmedov.
“You always look back on when you lose and [think], ‘what if,’” Heinisch told Sherdog. “If that kick was two inches lower; not above his ear, [but] below; it rocked him either way. I just take it as a lesson and not as a loss. I learned so many things on just leaking energy out on fight week, and having the most fans I’ve ever had show up. Walking into the lobby and having 30-plus fans, people blowing me up [on the phone], and the extra media involved with a pay-per-view card. Honestly, I didn’t feel that good that week. I was pretty sick, but I wasn’t going to pull out. [Also], just hunting a big finish right away, and not being patient in the fight. So, I just learned a lot.”
In this discussion with Sherdog, the Colorado native went in-depth on what went wrong for him last August. Including the Epstein-Barr virus he dealt with on fight week, and he also spoke on the adjustments he made in his nutrition following the defeat. Conversation then transitioned to his upcoming bout with the Dagestan native, and if wrestling will play a major role in the bout. Heinisch then spoke about whom he would like to face next with a win, and about his interest in documentary films and series, particularly the topic of law and incarceration.
