Borshchev – before the fight at UFC 295: “I almost gave up the sport during this camp”

Russian UFC fighter Vyacheslav Borshchev told about the difficult preparation for the fight at the UFC 295 tournament against Nazim Sadikhov.

— Are you satisfied with the preparation?

“I’m very unhappy, I almost gave up the sport during this camp.” It was a very tough camp and I trained very hard. And probably because it ended, I now have such a great feeling that I’m incredibly fit.

—What do you mean by “almost gave up sport”?

– I don’t know, it was hard. I’m getting older, I’m tired and in the morning you wake up and realize you have to do this workout again. And I just didn’t give myself peace this time. Even if it was the same last time. It’s just that last time I found the key to being in shape, but it’s a very difficult key. It’s very hard, very hard work. The guys, Khusssein and Khasan Shaikhaev (MMA fighters – ), helped me find him, but so far it has been very difficult. My last training camps were very difficult. I even thought it would end sooner. And so now, when I was packing my bag, there were quite happy emotions.

—Have you ever forgotten something while preparing for a fight?

– It always happens. Every time I get ready and every time I forget something. I am very distracted in this regard, but this time, on the way, I did not forget anything.

— Have you ever forgotten your mouthguard or bandage?

— Just for the last or penultimate fight, I forgot my mouthguard, but my wife immediately went to Urijah Faber (Borshchev’s trainer – ), she gave it to him, because he was supposed to arrive a day later and Urijah brought it. And I usually never forget a mouthguard or bandage. I’ve always had a rule. And this time, I forgot.

— Our last interview took place at a time when you were recovering from an eye injury sustained in combat following a punch. When did this injury disappear, what are the longest lasting effects?

“I think I walked for about a month or so.” But last time they checked and said everything is fine now. If last time there were still a few scratched roots (as the doctor said), now everything is fine.

— Does the blood take a long time to dissolve?

“No in the eyeball, the eye recovers quickly, everything was very quick. There was such an effect that when I leaned over, I still couldn’t see well. I went to the doctor and they told me I had some kind of bruise inside. It hasn’t passed yet, and that’s why it’s like this,” Borshchev told .

Borshchev became the champion of Russia in kickboxing, fought several professional fights and later turned to mixed martial arts. The Russian has been participating in the UFC since 2022, Borshchev’s statistics in MMA are 7 wins, 3 losses.

Watch the UFC 295 live stream on November 12 on Match! Fighter” from 01:55 Moscow time, the channel – from 06:00 Moscow time. You can also watch tournament fights on the websites matchtv.ru and sportbox.ru.