Claudio Puelles previews Noche UFC vs. Joaquim Silva
Claudio Puelles talks to MMA Junkie Radio ahead of his UFC Fight Night 259 matchup with Joaquim Silva at Noche UFC on Sept. 13 in San Antonio, Texas.
Claudio Puelles has taken advantage of the extensive layoffs he’s had since losing the biggest fight of his career against Dan Hooker at UFC 281 in November 2022.
Puelles (12-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) suffered a second-round TKO defeat to Hooker nearly three years ago and has only fought once since, dropping a spit decision to Fares Ziam at UFC Fight Night 237 in February 2024.
Recovery from a broken hand sustained against Ziam has kept Puelles on the sidelines, but he said it hasn’t been a sunken cost. He has worked diligently on his physical and mental game, the latter of which he admits had a setback due to the result against Hooker.
“In my mind it took me a while to get over that, honestly,” Puelles told MMA Junkie Radio. “I only got over that after the next fight I had. After I finished the next fight I was like, ‘Wow, I’ve still got it.’ Even though I lost a split decision I was like, ‘I just fought three hard rounds with a very tough prospect and a guy that has been finishing everybody.’ It took a while because I didn’t get to do anything for a while and hear all the critiques and that sh*t. It was tough for a while but after that fight it all went away.”
Puelles, still just 29, returns to action at UFC Fight Night 259 (Noche UFC) on Sept. 13 when he takes on Joaquim Silva (13-5 MMA, 6-5 UFC) in a lightweight bout at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
The Peruvian is confident all the building blocks are in place to snap his two-fight losing skid and taste victory for the first time since he submitted Clay Guida in April 2022.
“I wish I hadn’t broken my hand in the last fight because I was riding very good momentum in my head, wanting to fight in three months,” Puelles said. “But then I found out I broke my hand and had to wait for a while. It’s all been carried over into this next camp. Great head space, my best shape ever probably, so far.”
