Australia’s Tom Nolan reckons, just like Mystic Mac, he can predict the demise of his rivals.
“And it’s happening again this weekend,” insists the undefeated 23-year-old set to make his hyped UFC debut in Las Vegas this Sunday.
“My opponent, I’m finishing him within a round.
“I guarantee it”.
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Once an aspiring NRL wannabe with the Toowoomba Clydesdales, Nolan is now instead set to make his Octagon debut on the company’s first show of 2024 – facing Brazilian lightweight Nikolas Motta at the UFC Apex.
Apart from starting his career with six straight wins, the towering southpaw has also won his past four by knockout, including, last start, a brutal left hook finish on Season 7 of Dana White’s Contender Series.
In the days leading up to that bout too, Nolan had predicted to Fox Sports Australia he would finish big-talking Austrian Bogan Grad within a round – which he did, prompting no less than UFC boss Dana White to label him a “straight killer”.
And just as Irish megastar Conor McGregor once predicted the outcome of his own fights, so now Nolan is following suit.
Speaking from Las Vegas this week, ‘The Big Train’ not only insisted Sunday’s debut against Motta will bring yet another first round finish, but insisted he will go top 15 in the UFC lightweight division within the year.
Elsewhere, Nolan revealed he will also have older brother Luke in his corner on fight night, given only VIP tickets were available for the Apex Show, which, he says, “cost around three grand each”.
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“Originally I had about 30 people wanting to come over and watch my UFC debut this weekend,” the Aussie explained.
“But because this one’s at the UFC Apex, tickets aren’t cheap.
“So I’ve told everyone to wait until next time, wait until when I’m fighting in a stadium.
“Instead this Sunday, they’ll all be watching at City Golf Club in Toowoomba — they’re opening their doors from seven o’clock in the morning.
“But my brother, I really wanted him here.
“So he’ll be my third cornerman.
“He’s my older brother, has looked after me my entire life.
“So this is me trying to pay that back.
“Instead of him having to pay the $3000 or whatever it is for a seat, he can come and watch front row for free.”
Quizzed about the undeniable belief he carries into his UFC debut, Nolan continues: “I haven’t always been a super confident person.
“In fact, as a kid I was quite the opposite.
“But my life experiences, they have created that confidence.
“Fight by fight, I say what I’m going to do and then I go out there and do it.
“And I’m proving myself right every time.
“I say I’ll finish a guy in one round and then, on the biggest stage (of Contender), I go out there and finish him within a round.
“And it’s happening again this weekend.”
Asked where Motta, who has already fought four times in the UFC, was susceptible to being knocked cold, the Aussie continued: “There are plenty of shots I see.
“I see him getting stuck in the mud.
“He’s slow, short … getting older, hasn’t changed his style and didn’t look too good last time out, which was only eight weeks ago.
“He’s also been knocked out a few times and when that happens, it starts to impact on your brain.
“But he’s powerful.
“He hits really hard, so I think he’ll either walk forward or try to sit down in the centre. But I’m going to pull him into some dead space … and he’s going out.
“I’m really hurting this guy.”
Despite boasting just six fights, Nolan insists he is ready to go on a run inside the UFC’s stacked lightweight division.
“This time next year I’ll already be top 15,” he insists. “Or having the fight to put me there.
“I’ll go on a tear this year.
“I’m going to run through some people and it’s going to get real serious.
“When I look at the division, I see a bunch of targets that I’m going to take out.
“That’s it.
“I don’t really associate much emotion to any one person, I just know whoever they put in front of me, my team and I will find a way to win.”
Despite standing 6’3’’, or 191cm, Nolan stressed he has no issue making the lightweight limit.
“I could be on weight any time this week,” he says.
“I’m still eating carbs, which most fighters aren’t able to do (in fight week), with every one of my meals.
“Honestly, I’m eating whatever I want.
“Eating dessert.
“But in saying that, when I rehydrate after weigh-ins I’ll put about 12kg back on.
“I’m a perfectionist with this.”
And as for how he feels just days out from his UFC debut?
“It definitely feels special,” he says.
“And the treatment you get from the UFC – all your food provided, your clothes provided – it really is amazing.
“Unreal.
“I’m actually feeling less pressure too this time around than with the last fight.
“Because when you’re on Contender, it’s do or die.
“The boss man is watching.
“And if you lose, it’s a long road to even get back to that position again.
“But I did what I said I would do.
“And I made it look easy.”