Battling changes once again, CFFC champ Pat Sabatini remains focused on ultimate goal

Cage Fury Fighting Championships featherweight titleholder Pat Sabatini has his eyes set on fighting in the UFC, but first, he just needs a chance to fight in CFFC.

"I'm alway excited to get in there," Sabatini said. "I'm really keeping my fingers crossed that there's no last-minute shenanigans this time around and I can get in there and do my thing. The last two times were very, very crazy and hectic. It was an odd turn of events."

Sabatini's last two scheduled title defenses have each been scrapped on fight week. At this past September's CFFC 78, his opponent was significantly overweight and ruled ineligible to compete just one day before the event. November's CFFC 79 had an even crueler fate in store.

"The last one really, really bothered me because I was just getting in that good mental zone, that perfect place," Sabatini said. "I was actually ready to walk out, and I got the news that the fight was canceled. 

"I woke up the morning of the fight, got my shakedown in. I was feeling good, hanging out with the team, cracking a few jokes. I was having a good time, and when I was in the back, they brought it to my attention that the guy had a little bit of a medical issue, and after that, I was like, 'Oh, no. I hope this is not going to happen again.' They said the fight was still on, and then the commissioner changed his mind toward the end right before we were about to walk out. I was crushed, man. 

"It definitely messed me up mentally, but I refocused and got right back in the gym, and I'm ready to do the damn thing already."

Sabatini (11-2) returns to the cage on Saturday night, when he headlines CFFC 81, which streams live on UFC FIGHT PASS from Parx Casino in Bensalem, Penn. Once again, he faces a replacement opponent, with Matt Serra black belt James Gonzalez (5-3) stepping in on less than one week's notice to compete for the CFFC featherweight title.

With the steady stream of opponent changes he's prepped for in recent times, Sabatini said he's unfazed by the late switch.

"I worry about executing the best version of myself while I'm in there," Sabatini said. "I just continue to refine myself, and I'm going to just go in there and be myself and do my thing, no matter what he does."

It's a process to which Sabatini has committed himself, and one he hopes will pay off with an invitation to the sport's biggest promotion.

"I'm always open to whatever happens, but UFC is definitely the goal here," Sabatini said. "I took about three or four days off after the last one, and then I was right back in the gym. I've been going hard ever since, but making sure I don't overtrain. Overtraining can be the worst thing, and I definitely have a tendency of doing that, but I've definitely kept a good balance and feeling pretty good going into this fight."

Sabatini's misfortunes would be enough to cause most up-and-coming prospects to lose their focus, but he insists his dedication has not wavered. Despite the bad luck in recent times, Sabatini says he remains clear in his path.

"I'm very good at channeling my thoughts and channeling my emotions and whatnot," Sabatini said. "I'm not even going to think about anything that happened in the past. The past is the past for a reason. I'm just going to put my mind in a really good spot so I can go out and be myself in there."

And if he's able to do that, Sabatini said, he thinks good times will unquestionably follow.

"I definitely feel like I need to make a statement in this fight, absolutely," Sabatini said. "I've got to go out there and really put on a good show.

"I'm definitely hungry to get that finish, but I won't rush it. I see a finish, but it's going to be up to him to see what method. I'm just going to take whatever he offers up and use it against him."