Mansur Abdul-Malik is leaving his first professional defeat behind him as he prepares for another test at UFC 330.
The 28-year-old middleweight prospect will face Dustin Stoltzfus on Saturday, Aug. 15, at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. It will be Abdul-Malik’s first fight since Yousri Belgaroui handed him the first loss of his career at UFC Seattle.
Rather than overhaul his entire approach, Abdul-Malik believes the biggest adjustment is simply getting back to being himself.
Abdul-Malik Realized He Was Trying to Be Perfect
The loss initially made Abdul-Malik question everything outside the cage. He considered changing his habits and lifestyle, but quickly realized there was little reason to do so.
“Maybe early on after the fight happened, of course, the mental perspective makes you want to change everything.”
“But then I look at my lifestyle and habits, and I’m like, ‘What is there really to change?’”
For Abdul-Malik, the real issue was his mindset inside the Octagon.
“The thing to change was to be myself.”
“I was going out there trying to be way too perfect, and there are a lot of flaws in trying to be perfect.”
That realization has shaped his preparation for Stoltzfus. Instead of chasing an entirely different version of himself, Abdul-Malik wants to bring back the aggression and freedom that made him one of the UFC’s more intriguing middleweight prospects.
Abdul-Malik Wants to Fight With More Freedom
Abdul-Malik believes he became too serious during his run before the Belgaroui fight. Against Stoltzfus, he wants to return to the style that helped him build his reputation.
“My intention is to go out there and be me and fight like me.”
“To be aggressive, to be playful and have a smile on my face—I felt like I was way too serious.”
Still, Abdul-Malik is not making excuses for what happened in Seattle. He gives Belgaroui full credit for getting the better of him that night.
“But all those things are secondary. I lost to a fighter who was better than me. Period. Point blank.”
The upcoming fight gives Abdul-Malik an immediate chance to respond. Stoltzfus has also trained at Xtreme Couture several times over the years, giving him some familiarity with the environment surrounding Abdul-Malik.
“Now, I have an opportunity to just perform.”
“Perform, be myself, have fun and engage.”
Abdul-Malik enters UFC 330 with a 3-1-1 record inside the Octagon and three finishes. Every one of his seven professional victories has come by knockout, giving him a perfect finishing rate.