Salvador: “I always rely on my instincts”

Dylan Salvador (49-11-1, 21 KO's) faces lightweight champion Sitthichai (113-30-5, 30 KO's) at GLORY 39 BRUSSELS this weekend and says he will win the fight using the same method which won the Lightweight Contender Tournament at GLORY 36 GERMANY.

“Instincts. I always rely on my instincts,” the Frenchman says. “I cannot say that I can identify one key to victory. It's a case of just practising very hard so that in the fight you are able to adapt and improvise and overcome. I always use my instincts and I hope it will succeed again this time.”

The pair have fought twice before, which makes this Saturday's fight both a title fight and a best-of-three 'rubber match'. Salvador lost the first fight and won the second; what has he learned from his previous two encounters with the Thai champion?

“Actually I do not think there was much difference between first and second fights, only that I managed to get my rhythm better in the second fight and finish stronger than him in each round,” he says.

“I think this fight will be the same as the first two: full commitment from both of us, a lot of hard fighting, both of us giving it the absolute maximum to hurt the other guy and come out on top. I am looking forward to it.”

An interesting aspect to this fight: usually it is Sitthichai who gives up a weight advantage to his opponent, being in reality more suited to fighting at a lower weight. But the same can also be said for Salvador and it may be that it is he and not Sitthichai who is at a weight and power disadvantage on Saturday night.

“I don't want to change weight category. That means I had to adapt to heavier opponents who have a power advantage and so I have looked for the technical and vicious aspects of my technique to win my fights,” he says.

“This fight will be no different. The preparation has been the usual, nothing specific. We will adapt in the ring.”

GLORY 39 BRUSSELS takes place this Saturday, March 25 at the Vorst National Arena in Brussels, Belgium. Sitthichai and Salvador headline the SUPERFIGHT SERIES card, which airs worldwide on UFC FIGHT PASS.

Tickets for this weekend's event are available from Sherpa.be