Sydney lightweight Alex Gorgees secures scrap with American Jalin Turner at UFC 234 in Melbourne

SYDNEY lightweight Alex Gorgees is confident he can bring the taller, heavier Jalin Turner when they meet at UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena on February.

ALEX Gorgees has always believed in the phrase “the biggest they are the harder they fall”.

And the Sydney lightweight is confident he can bring the taller, heavier Jalin Turner when they meet at UFC 234 at Rod Laver Arena on February 9.

Gorgees’ bout with Turner has been officially added to the blockbuster Melbourne card, with American Ricky Simon slated to fight Brazilian Rani Yahya at bantamweight.

Standing 6’2 and weighing 76kgs, Gorgees gives height and weight away to the American, who is 6’3 and tips the scales at 77kgs.

But the 23-year-old Australian is unfazed.

“I’m happy with my opponent, to be honest,” Gorgees said.

“I like fighting people that are bigger than me. The bigger they are the harder they fall.

“This is do or die and I’m running with my head forward straight at him. I’m going to look to take him out and beat the s--- out of him, to be honest.

“I’m looking for a finish, in the second round. I’m going to put the pace on him, get him on the back foot and then I’m going to break him.”

UFC fighter Alex Gorgees. Picture: Richard Dobson

Making his debut on short notice at UFC Fight Night Adelaide in December, Gorgees is confident he will be better prepared.

“I took that fight on nine days’ notice with 12kgs to cut,” Gorgees said.

“It’s not easy to do. Losing 12kgs and trying to rehydrate, it’s a tough feeling. I basically had to starve myself, but when the UFC comes calling for me, I don’t say ‘who’, I don’t say ‘what’ and I don’t say ‘where’. I just say ‘yes’ and I sign the contract and get on with it.

“I don’t care who it is. I just want to fight.

“This time I don’t have as much weight to cut. At the moment I only have 9.5kg to cut in four weeks, so it will be a lot easier.”

UFC 234 will be headlined by the middleweight title fight between champion Robert Whittaker and American challenger Kelvin Gastelum, while Kiwi Israel Adesanya takes on Brazilian legend Anderson Silva in the co-main event.

Originally published as Sydney lightweight Alex Gorgees secures scrap with American Jalin Turner at UFC 234 in Melbourne