Tuco Tokkos | Dealing With Imposter Syndrome, Training With The Best

While the change is dramatic and pronounced, it pales compared to the totally different means Tokkos heads into this weekend’s conflict with Erslan as for the primary time in his temporary UFC tenure, he is coming into off a victory.

The 35-year-old landed on the mistaken facet of the ends in his first two outings, dropping to gentle heavyweight prospects Oumar Sy and Navajo Stirling. But final summer season, he rolled into Nashville and dominated his matchup with Junior Tafa, taking the Australian powerhouse to the bottom routinely earlier than lastly submitting him late within the second spherical.

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“It was a great feeling,” he mentioned. “It was a giant aid since you at all times have a little bit of imposter syndrome while you get to the UFC, so it is like you may eliminate it after you get that first ‘dub.’ Some guys get it of their debut, however I solely fought powerful guys, so I stored that in thoughts… When I acquired the Junior Tafa matchup, I mentioned, ‘Okay, it is a nice matchup. I’m gonna go on the market and win with confidence.’ Even coming from these two losses, they have been powerful opponents, so I stored that consciousness about it, and it was simpler to enter that one with confidence.”