Daniel Zellhuber (15-1) is confident he can hand Esteban Rybovic (13-1) his first knockout loss at UFC 306.
Zellhuber will face Argentina’s Rybovic on Saturday at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The Mexican is riding a three-fight winning streak after suffering his lone loss to Trey Ogden in his UFC debut in 2022. And confidence is one aspect Zellhuber has benefited from the streak the most. “Golden Boy” admits he even questioned whether he really belonged at UFC after his debut setback. But Zellhuber has grown more confident since then and is committed to defeating Rybovic for the first time at UFC 306.
“The most important thing I’ve found is confidence,” Zellhuber told UFC.com. “I feel like for me, when you come to UFC and lose your first fight, it kind of devastates you a little bit mentally, but after losing that fight, I feel like I was on the fence about whether I even belonged here at UFC. After three straight wins, the way I’ve won, the development I’ve had in the gym and with my training partners, I feel like I’m more dangerous than I’ve ever been, because I know who I am and I’m confident in my skills.”
“I’m going to be the first guy to knock out Esteban Rybovic. And I’ve envisioned this, I’ve made it happen, and I know it’s going to happen… That’s why I say I’m going to knock him out, and I say this not because I’m being conceited, but because I truly believe I’m working towards achieving that knockout.”UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili, Saturday at 10pm ET on ESPN+. Order now!
Meanwhile, Rybovic suffered the only loss of his career in his UFC debut against Loic Radjabov at UFC 285 last year. The Dana White Contender Series alumnus has since won consecutive bouts, most recently a 37-second head kick knockout win over Terrance McKinney in May of this year.
If he beats Rybovich, Zellhuber would like to fight another unranked fighter, preferably before facing a top-15 lightweight contender, but “Golden Boy” is open to fighting a ranked fighter if the organization sees fit.
“still [want] Top 15 [opponent] “I’m not going to fight yet just because I’m 25, but of course, having said that, I feel like after I win at the Sphere I could be one more fight away from breaking into the top 15, or I could be in the top 15 right away,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen at UFC. Whatever fight UFC gives me, I’m ready. If they think I can break into the top 15, I might take it. If they give me the opportunity for one more fight, that’s good for me. It’ll be more experience.”
Still in the early stages of his career, Zellhuber is in no rush to get to the top. He believes he can get into the top five if he speeds along, but that’s where he often comes to a crossroads. The Mexican prospect would rather take it one step at a time against higher level competition and gain experience.
“These days everyone wants to do it fast, but I think it’s better to take it one step at a time. I think Esteban is a step above my last fight, and the next fight needs to be a step above.”
[higher]”I’m happy with it that way because it allows me to keep growing, keep learning and keep evolving, and I feel like that’s what it takes to have a successful career here at UFC. Because if you rush into fights, you might be good and you’re in the top five, but once you’re in the top five, you can turn back, but if you can’t get past the top five, you’re in a tough spot. That’s why I want to take it one step at a time.”
