Interview with Top 10 Flyweight David Dvorak Ahead of UFC Columbus

Fight Preview:

David Dvorak (20-3 overall, 3-0 in the UFC) finds himself inside the top 10 of the Flyweight division after defeating Juancamilo Ronderos in May of 2021. A well-rounded mixed martial artist, Dvorak has eight wins by KO/TKO and eight wins by submission for an 80% finish rate. If he can defeat Matheus Nicolau it would put Dvorak just outside the top five and one step closer to a title shot. 

Matheus Nicolau (17-3-1 overall, 5-1 in the UFC) is coming off the biggest year of his career in 2021 that saw him pick up wins over Manel Kape and Tim Elliott. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Nicolau is extremely dangerous once the floor hits the mat and that likely presents his easiest route to victory against Dvorak. Coming in as the number seven flyweight, Nicolau could enter the top five with a win on Saturday. 

Interview with David Dvorak: 

Danny Podolsky: How has training been going and how did this fight with Matheus Nicolau come together? 

David Dvorak: Training camp for this fight was great. I was in the Czech Republic and then I was in Poland at Jan Blachowicz’ gym. Later on, I was in Vegas at Xtreme Couture and the UFC Pi to help me train. I was in training camp for a fight with           Chinese fighter Su [Mudaerji] but I got a message from the UFC that he ws not ready to fight with me and they sent me a new opponent. They next offered me Matheus Nicolau and I took that fight. 

Podolsky: What gives you the advantage over Matheus Nicolau in this fight? 

Dvorak: I think that I will be stronger in my mind than Matheus Nicolau. 

Podolsky: With 8 career submissions and 8 careers KOs, where do you consider yourself stronger: on the ground or in the standup?

Dvorak: Iťs hard to say because I’m a complex mma fighter. I have no backgroud from any one form of combat sports so I only know MMA and I can fight well in every situation. 

Podolsky: You’re coming off a 10 month layoff, what caused that absence and was it frustrating not being able to fight more last year?

Dvorak: No it was not frustrating. I had a lot of time to improve my skill and recover my body. Yes I would like to fight a little bit more but sometimes less is more because it gives me the chance to improve my game. 

Podolsky: On the same card as you is two top five flyweights in Askar Askarov and Kai Kara-France. Have you given any to that matchup and are either of those opponents people you would like to fight in the future? 

Dvorak: This fight will be one of the best on the card I think. It’s a really good matchup. Yes I would like to fight either one and It doesn’ matter if it’s with Kai Kara-France or Askar Askarov. I want to be in the top five by the end of the year so I will have to fight guys like those two. 

Podolsky: You’re fighting in front of fans in Columbus on March 26th after your last performance was at the UFC Apex. Are you excited to be fighting in front of fans again?

Dvorak: It will be pretty amazing to finally fight in front of the fans. I can’t wait to step inside the octagon this Saturday night. 

Podolsky: Your compatriot Jiri Prochazka is fighting for the title against Glover Teixeira in June. Have you been able to train with Prochazka at all and what are your thoughts on that matchup?

Dvorak: It"s a great matchup and a big oportunity for Jiri Prochazka. He is a different guy and I’m 100% sure that he will be the next light heavyweight champion. I haven’t directly trained with him due to the size difference, but he is a fantastic fighter to be around. 

Podolsky: If you win this fight with Nicolau, how active would you like to be in 2022 and are you looking at a top five fight next?

Dvorak: I would like to have 3 fights in 2022 and I want to finish this year in the top five in the UFC flyweight division.

Featured image credit to Embed from Getty Images