Robert Valentin drew motivation from mother’s death for first UFC triumph

Robert
Valentin felt he just couldn’t lose at UFC
Winnipeg. 

Valentin (11-6) took on Canadian debutant Julien
Leblanc (10-3) in a middleweight bout at the Canada Life Center
in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Saturday. Valentin looked for his
first
UFC win, having lost all three of his previous fights in the
promotion. However, Valentin didn’t let the pressure get to him
this time, unlike in his previous fights. “Robzilla” also had the
added motivation to win for his late mother, who passed away last
November. The Swiss fighter scored a first-round submission win
over Leblanc to make his mother proud.

“I had all of this pressure and it led me to not enjoying the
moment,” he told the UFC. “I went back to having fun with my
everyday workouts and being around people. And another big thing
that motivated me is the passing of my mom. I just know that she’s
watching and she’s proud of me not matter what. I couldn’t lose
today… I know momma’s up there watching and she’s so proud.”

Backed by a Team

Valentin also thanked his coach, Dewey
Cooper, who took him under his wing without any questions.
Valentin now feels that he has a team behind him at
Xtreme Couture who really wants him to win.

“I’m so happy that I found coach Dewey because he just picked me
up,” Valentin said. “He didn’t even know where I am, what I am, who
I am. He just was like, ‘You approached me, you have good hands,
let’s just get to work together.’ And we put in so much hours and
so much work. And he gave me the feeling that I’m not alone, I’m
with a team, someone that believes in me and truly wants me to
win.”