Kaue Fernandes Still Mastering the Tricks of the Trade

Kaue Fernandes still has a considerable amount of work left to do in order to become relevant in the Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight division.

The 29-year-old Brazilian will once again set out in search of his first victory inside the Octagon when he takes on Mohammad Yahya as part of the UFC on ABC 7 undercard this Saturday at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Fernandes enters the cage with an 8-2 record. However, he wound up on the wrong side of a contentious split decision against Marc Diakiese in his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 231 in November.

“[It] was a big learning experience,” Fernandes told Sherdog.com. “I believe I didn’t lose, from the bottom of my heart. I landed more strikes, and they were more significant. When he had top position, I landed more strikes from the bottom. I also threatened with a submission attempt. I came close to knocking him out. I don’t see how the first and second rounds could be scored for my opponent. I would understand if this was still 2005 or so.

“That doesn’t change the fact that I had to change many things,” he added. “I made mistakes during that fight. The biggest lesson is about training. Everything happens so fast in a fight that if you’re not well trained, you go into autopilot. Another factor is the type of cage used during training sessions. Not everything was bad. I had a strong performance against a fighter who had been in the UFC for over seven years at that point.”

Fernades has grown accustomed to dealing with difficulties since he arrived on the mixed martial arts scene in 2014. Because of fights being nixed, injuries and the coronavirus pandemic, he has never fought more than twice in the same calendar year. Not all was lost due to the inconsistent schedule.

“I’ve had more than five fight cancellations—eight or nine,” Fernandes said. “My record should have had close to 20 fights by now. In the end, I’ve had some 20 fight camps, which in a way was more important than the fights themselves. With each camp, you get stronger. With every cancellation, I knew I’d be stronger and more technical next time around. I saw it as God protecting me and preparing me even more. Additionally, I’ve had several injuries. This is common for most fighters. I had to be idle for a while to be able to come back at 100%. Plus, there was a pandemic. That all contributed to my small number of professional bouts.”

In his latest assignment, he draws a former UAW Warriors champion in Yahya. The Emirati made his Octagon debut at UFC 294, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Trevor Peek on Oct. 21. The setback was Yahya’s first in almost three years and snapped his five-fight winning streak.

“Yahya is a quality fighter,” Fernandes said. “He’s fighting at home, so I’m sure he’s ready to give his life for a win. I’ll look to explore his weaknesses. I’m fully capable of beating him and putting my own life on the line to do so.”

Fernandes continues to hone his skills at the esteemed Nova Uniao camp in Rio de Janeiro. There, he trains under coaches Andre Pederneiras and Daniel Malvino while working alongside a number of notable stablemates, including Walber dos Anjos, Joao Vitor de Oliveira, Gabriel Ramos Carneiro, Felipe Froes and Renato Rangel. Fernandes has also spent time on his boxing with top competitors from the Brazilian navy.

“I’ve been doing intense training three to four hours a day, and this isn’t just for this fight,” he said. “It’s all in God’s hands. Something could happen that could cancel or delay this fight. I’m not just getting ready for Yahya. I’m always training in all areas so I can overcome any rocks in my way. I train with my evolution as a fighter in mind.”

The bout with Yahya marks Fernandes’ first away from his native Brazil.

“I’m always motivated to fight outside my own country for the first time,” he said. “My plan is to get to know the world through my career. It’s further motivation. I’m very thankful to be able to live this opportunity after so many years.”