LAS VEGAS – Ethyn Ewing admits life is a little different.
A year ago, he was a regular guy. Today, ahead of UFC Fight Night 272, Ewing (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is still regular, just a little less so. He’s recognized and occasionally snaps pictures with fans. Otherwise, things are the same.
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“I’ve regulated (the attention) pretty quickly,” Ewing told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “It has not affected my camp at all. A fight is a fight. It differs every single time you get in there, and you must prepare to the utmost degree for each individual fight. The hype was cool. It’s fantastic. I am riding it to build my brand and my name and to project myself in the rankings as quickly as possible. I have a different opponent in front of me Saturday, and I’ve prepared above and beyond.”
Ewing’s second UFC appearance is highly anticipated after the clinic he put on vs. Malcolm Wellmaker at UFC 322 in November. Ewing entered the bout as a total unknown, as he stepped in on short notice against one of the UFC’s top prospects. But Ewing quickly absorbed thousands of new fans as he dazzled with his striking and won a unanimous decision.
Despite his awe-inducing win, Ewing was quick to defend Wellmaker and the criticism that was hurled his way.
“I don’t think it’s a fraud check by any means,” Ewing said. “I don’t want to say nobody, but the majority of people didn’t know who I was. The people who had seen me fight. The people who followed my career, my friends, my family, my coaches, they know exactly who I am, and we were very confident in what it is I was going to do. It’s not a fraud check. That guy is a very large individual for the weight class. He’s very strong. He puts people out in a very savage fashion. For me to go in there and do what I did, it just proves who I am, what I’m capable of, what I bring to the table, and that I’m a complete fighter. I’m ready for all of it. I’m a technical boxer, a striker. I’m a technical grappler. I’m a mixed martial artist, the best at everything.”
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Not only did Ewing’s win garner attention, a video of him returning to his day job as a construction worker went viral. Though he still remains connected to the job, Ewing said he hasn’t worked much outside of the gym or his house, where there’s a new addition to his family.
“I haven’t been back to my main place of work,” Ewing said. “I had a baby boy Dec. 14, the following month from the fight. I went on leave. I talked to those guys. My boss and I are very cool. I actually went to a fight night with the vice president of the company pretty recently. Those guys are all on my team so I haven’t been back on site with them specifically. I’ve been training full-time. I do have my own personal safety company and business, so I take care of that where it needs to be taken care of. Right now it’s fighting. That’s it. That’s No. 1.”
Vibes may have changed, but Ewing predicts the same outcome this time as last. He takes on Rafael Estevam (10-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) on Saturday’s main card at Meta APEX.
“My plan is to come in here, show how much better I am than each opponent that I faced every single time,” Ewing said. “I’m gunning for that belt. That’s the end goal. It’s fresh on my mind. It’s the only thing I care about is that I achieve is the championship and I become the champion myself.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ethyn Ewing: UFC Vegas 115 a different vibe with same outcome
