“I kind of had a wake-up call” - Denis Puric on restructuring his career to continue competing at the highest level

'The Bosnian Menace' Denis Puric of Canada and Bosnia understands better than most how longevity is the name of the game.

Now at 40 years old, the battle-hardened veteran admitted he had to reevaluate his approach to keep up with elite competition, especially in the stacked 135-pound striking divisions.

Puric pondered his reflections ahead of another pivotal showdown at ONE 173 on November 16.

He’ll face Japanese superstar Takeru Segawa in his home turf at Tokyo's Ariake Arena. Speaking to ONE Championship, Puric admitted his shortcomings leading to his tough losses as of late.

A big part of it came from ignoring the physical realities of competing against younger opposition.

He said:

"I was not considering the fact that I'm 40 years old. So, I kind of had a wake-up call with the last fight, and I'm just like, 'I'm just gonna take my time, man.' I'm gonna pull it back, recover, focus on the gym, and stop rushing into fights."

Puric surrendered his place in the top 5 after getting knocked out by Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi in his last outing.

The Soi Dogs MMA representative built his career through sheer toughness and grit, often having turnarounds between contests.

However, ‘The Bosnian Menace’ admits his approach has taken its toll, and he’s taking it slower this time in preparation for Takeru.

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Denis Puric explains why he's not interested in fighting Johan Ghazali

A name that keeps popping up for Denis Puric is Johan Ghazali.

'The Bosnian Menace' has had a fiery rivalry with 'Jojo' for some time now, after their back-and-forth on social media and interviews.

But as far as Puric is concerned, that's all there is to it, and he doesn't see a reason to fight the Malaysian-American phenom. He told the South China Morning Post:

"I'm not f***ing looking at that kid. What is he doing for my career? He does nothing for me if I fight him; win or lose, it does nothing for me. I'm not looking at that kid, I'm looking to fight beasts. The beasts that I've been fighting."

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda MMA and ONE Championship for the latest on Puric's bout with Takeru.