“In this sport, it’s always about overcoming adversity, inside and outside of the cage,” he added. “You’ve got to overcome the storm, because otherwise you’re not really a fighter.”
And the emerging featherweight knows a thing or two about navigating adversity, having suffered a nasty arm injury early last year, right when it seemed like he was poised to get the call to the Octagon.
He recovered from the gnarly injury, won two fights, reclaiming his CFFC featherweight title, and made the jump to the UFC, officially debuting with a victory over Tristan Connelly in April after his initial bout with Rafael Alves in February was scrapped the day before the event when the Brazilian missed the lightweight limit for the featherweight affair.
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Having reached the biggest stage and kicked off his tenure by earning a pair of quality wins, including a gutsy finish, Sabatini has plenty to be proud of and every reason to celebrate what has already been a successful rookie campaign inside the UFC cage, but that’s just not the way he’s wired.
“I do take time to appreciate the moment, but I don’t hold onto it for too long,” admitted Sabatini, who trains alongside rising star Sean Brady under the direction of coaches Daniel Gracie, John Marquez, and Erik Purcell. “I appreciate it, but then I let it go because there is more to be done, more goals on the horizon.
“I can’t focus on what’s already happened for too long, otherwise I won’t be prepared for the future. It is nice to see things coming out the way they have because it gives me more motivation heading into the future.”
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While he’s very much a “go to work, get the job done, and then come home” kind of guy, that doesn’t mean that Sabatini isn’t analytical in his approach to his craft and making progress in the talent-rich featherweight division.
