UFC newbie Jake Hadley not feeling any pressure after Dana White's decision to sign him after upsetting matchmakers

JAKE HADLEY isn't feeling any added pressure ahead of his long-awaited UFC debut – despite Dana White's glowing words about him.

Hadley punched his ticket to the big time with a submission victory over Mitch Raposo on Season 5 of Dana White's Contender Series last October.



Matchmakers Mick Maynard and Sean Shelby, however, weren't keen on signing the Brummie as he "upset" them and other UFC staff members during fight week and failed to make weight

White, however, opted to hand Hadley a contract – but the boss' show of faith isn't an additional weight on the shoulders of the flyweight prospect.

The Team Renegade 125-pounder told SunSport: "From the outside looking in, I guess there is added pressure.

"Especially with it being my first fight in the UFC and being on the main card.

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"There's a lot of hype behind the fight and people asking, 'Will I actually even make weight?' From the outside, there's more pressure on this fight.

"But to me, it just feels like another day at the office. I've been in big fights before so I don't feel any added pressure."

Hadley has been encouraged by White's words of praise – although they merely confirmed what he's believed to be true for several years.

He said: "That felt really, really good to hear. But it is something I already know.

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"I already know I'm a special athlete and a special fighter. I'm around top-level fighters all the time and I can see the difference between myself and them.

"I know I'm a special athlete, so I wasn't shocked that he said it.

"Actually, I was more shocked that he said it after that performance because I think I've had better performances against guys that are probably better fighters than him."

Hadley's first octagon outing will see him lock horns with Brazilian Allan Nascimento at UFC Vegas 54 on Saturday night.

Nascimento represents the toughest task of the undefeated Hadley's career and the 25-year-old is treating it as such.

He has, however, thought about performing a quick turnaround to compete at UFC London in July.

The former Cage Warriors champ said: "Obviously that would be ideal, but at the moment all I'm focused on is Allan.

"After the fight, we'll talk about it then and there and see if we can get me on the London card.

"But at the moment, my only focus is Allan."

The undefeated Hadley is keen to make a mark in the stacked flyweight division as soon as possible.

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And that, in his mind, means starting with a violent statement against the experienced and durable Nascimento.

He said: "I'm gonna fill him in right and good and hopefully get that $50,000 bonus. Get that Violent Money."

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