While that hype was and is well-earned, Williams isn’t particularly motivated to steal hype from the 29-year-old. Two years his opponent’s junior, Williams understands what he brings to the table as well. Proudly representing Jackson, Michigan, “The OxFighter” embraces the grind.
“Coming from where I come from, the odds have always been stacked against me,” he said. “Odds were stacked against me even to just get to the UFC, so me being here, fighting people that’s got all this (hype), I got a lot of clout too. I get this question semi-a-lot, but basically, people be worried about who I’m across (from). They need to be worried about that they’re across from me. They’re going to see that though. Especially after this fight.”
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In terms of the type of fight Williams expects, he described a “high-class, technical” fight, which is appropriate considering the two fighters’ track record. They both have the power to shut the lights out with 13 knockouts between them, and neither shy away from a firefight.
In less than two years, Williams has established himself as an entertaining fighter in the stacked welterweight division, and a win over Baeza almost certainly puts him on a path toward a ranked opponent. Although he isn’t shy about his confidence, Williams projects a sense of “time will tell” about his talent and ability. Fight night represents another window of opportunity to let people know who he is in the Octagon, but in terms of calling his shots or letting his ambitions be known, he prefers to let his “actions and hands” speak for themselves.
