Hunter Azure: No Concerns About Experience Deficit

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A successful Ultimate Fighting Championship debut in September was followed by eight months of inactivity—a reality that left Hunter Azure champing at the bit. Azure will put his 8-0 record on the line against Brian Kelleher at UFC Fight Night 171 on Wednesday in Jacksonville, Florida. Buoyed by self-belief, he does not expect Kelleher, a 30-fight veteran, to offer much resistance.

“We definitely took a lot of looks at his losses [and] his wins. I see his guillotine as the best thing he has to offer me,” Azure told Sherdog.com. “I feel like I can beat him everywhere, and 10 losses in your career—that’s a lot. He doesn’t have the heart I have. He doesn’t have the [same] cardio or the [same] mentality as me. I’m the new up-and-comer, and I’m going to prove that.”

In this exclusive interview with Sherdog, Azure discussed the difficulties associated with prolonged inactivity, staying afloat financially, fights falling through, trying to train during the coronavirus pandemic, fatherhood and more.