Saturday’s UFC debut for Torrez Finney will bring an element of the new as the former Greyhound two-sport star takes the next step in his fighting career.
At the same time, the setting and buildup will be very familiar.
Finney will enter the ring for UFC Fight Night in the event’s middleweight bout against Robert Valentine at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, the same place that he fought multiple times in the Dana White Contender series that ultimately earned him a UFC contract.
Coming off that contender series gauntlet, Finney actually says that he feels less pressure. Previously, he not only had to win but also do with enough pizzaz to warrant a UFC contract offer.
Now? The focus is singular.
“The pressure is a bit less. In the contender series, I had to win and impress Dana,” Finney said. “If anyone saw my journey, that was hard. Now, all I have to do if focus on winning and being as successful as I can.”
That’s not to say Saturday will be a refresh of previous fights and buildups for Finney. His bout with Valentin, a native of Switzerland, will be on the night’s main card and broadcast on ESPN or ESPN+.
“I’m really fired up and ready to go. The opportunity to fight in the UFC and to be in this position is one that I never thought I would be in,” Finney said. “I always thought that I would be an athlete. My goal coming out of school was to play in the NFL or if anything, be a pro wrestler, be in the WWE. To be on the verge of going into a UFC fight, I can’t wait.”
That exposure plus more eyeballs on the night, whether on TV or in the arena, adds some pep to this fight for Finney.
“There’s definitely a lot more attention and media, a lot more attention is paid to UFC,” Finney said. “But in terms of preparation and how you go about things, it’s all the same. The magnitude may change, but the preparation is the same for me and my coaches.”
