Landwehr will need every ounce of that pressure and pace in his biggest test yet: Dan Ige. The Hawaiian has been a consistent presence in the Top 15 for the last couple years before going on a losing skid he emphatically ended in January with a knockout win over Damon Jackson.
In Landwehr’s eyes, he views Ige as “the perfect dance partner” and vows to be the first man to get Ige out of there early.
“It’s not personal, but it’s personal,” Landwehr said. “I don’t hate him, but he’s the enemy right now. Every fight is the most important fight for me, and he’s the most important fight right now. He’s important to me. I’m important to him.”
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While Ige has one-punch knockout power – the best display of which came in his sub-30 second knockout of Gavin Tucker – he is a well-rounded fighter with rock-solid wrestling.
Knowing this, Landwehr is fully expecting a mixed attack coming his way, but he has shown a solid defensive grappling game throughout his UFC tenure. It’s a major test for him, but he knows the opportunities at hand if he passes it with flying colors.
“I would bet a thousand, maybe even the whole purse, that he shoots (for a takedown),” he said. “I feel like the whole mantra of my camp is, ‘I’m coming in unranked and I’m walking out a star,’ and that’s it, man. I’m going to really cut a promo, and I can’t cut that promo unless I win. It’s win, cut a promo, go home.”
