Collin Lubberts isn't harping on past scorecards ahead of CFFC comeback: 'It's only going to make me a better fighter'

Former title challenger Lubberts returns to face a red-hot Kendly St. Louis at Saturday's CFFC 135 event in Florida.

With 11 action-packed fights filling out the CFFC 135 lineup this Saturday night, the return of Collin Lubberts might be getting lost in the mix of a stacked card. 

Taking on Kendly St. Louis (9-4) in a potential welterweight title eliminator fight, Lubberts (6-3) steps back into the cage after nearly 16 months away from fighting. Before his time off, Lubberts was one of Cage Fury Fighting Championships' hottest prospects, and he now looks to pick up right where he left off. 

Starting his career at 6-1 and training every day with perennial contender Colby Covington at MMA Masters, Lubberts was undoubtedly on the UFC's short list only two short years ago. Despite all of the career momentum and potential, Lubberts has found himself on the wrong end of some very close scorecards in recent outings, losing extremely tight back-to-back split-decision fights to Raheam Forest and Hugh Pulley. 

Those kind of results would kill the spirits of most fighters who were so close to getting that elusive UFC call, but not Lubberts.

"It's one person deciding these factors," Lubberts said. "I go back and watch these fights, and in my mind, I won these fights. At the end of the day, on paper, it says it's a loss. When I go back and watch these fights, I try to be as unbiased as possible. I feel like I got these."

Instead of cowering away from competition, Lubberts took these losses as an opportunity to grow and heal as an athlete. He spent every day of the past 16 months doing nothing but training mentally and physically, leaving him the sharpest and healthiest that he has ever been going into a fight. His fighting motivation has only grown since his last loss in 2023.

"I don't regret any of those," Lubberts said. "I kind of deserved those losses because it's only going to make me a better fighter, and it's going to show me the real improvements I have to make when I'm in there. I just have to keep reminding myself that I am a winner. Like I said, there's one person stopping me from being 9-0 right now."

With all three of Lubberts' career losses coming via split decision, he actually takes responsibility for the scorecards rather than solely blaming the judges. Instead of being upset over the close fights, Lubberts is using these losses as motivation to improve his skillset. 

"I walked out of there and I was like, 'Bro, I'm not f-cking tired. I'm not even nowhere near gassed,'" Lubberts recalled. "I know I had more to give in that fight. I go back and watch, and I kind of held back a little too much. That's been something I've done in my career a lot. That's something I really look forward to not doing again."

Although Lubberts is putting an emphasis on leaving fights out of the judges' hands going forward, he still believes that the skillset of St. Louis makes a three-round war very likely. Using the adjustments that he worked on in camp will be key to separating himself from a close fight if the bout does go the distance.

"I've got to make it my pace," Lubberts said "I've got to shut him out and make it my fight, 100 percent. He's going to have to answer everything I'm doing. He's going to have to try to keep up with me. I hope he's ready."

Finding a finish usually comes naturally in an MMA fight, and Lubberts is aware of this. He believes head-hunting could be his downfall and that a flowing pressure will be the key to wearing on his opponent. Whether it's an early finish or a three-round bloody war, the mission for Lubberts remains the same. 

"I need to get a win, man," Lubberts said. "A win is the most important thing. If me and Kendly fight three hard rounds and I get a win at the end of that, I'm just as happy as if I get a first-round finish."

With a big bounce-back win and barring no injuries, Lubberts wishes to fight again as soon as possible. He believes a big finish will put him right back into CFFC welterweight title contention but knows a call from the UFC might take a bit more. Hoping to stay active with big performances and surrounding himself with top UFC talent, Lubberts reaffirms his destiny still belongs in the UFC. 

"It's inevitable with me in this game," Lubberts said. I know the work I put in. I know my skillset. I know I'm one of the best fighters in the world. People might not know it now, but I know my skillset. I've trained with some of the best fighters in the world, and I know where my level is. It's just about going out there and performing fight night."

With only three total scorecards costing him an entirely undefeated career, Lubberts is the perfect example of MMA being "a game of inches." It would be hard to deny Lubberts another spot on the UFC "short list" with a big win at CFFC 135. 

The talent has always been there for Lubberts, but now he is well aware of the strategy needed to have long-term success in this sport. With hours of mental and physical preparation behind him, expect to see the most dangerous version of Lubberts the world has ever seen as he steps into the cage against St. Louis.

Watch the action unfold on Saturday at Tampa's Florida State Fairgrounds or streaming live on UFC FIGHT PASS. Limited tickets remain at CFFC.tv.