Worried that his latest chance at the UFC might be his last, Andre Muniz entered his Contender Series fight with Taylor Johnson looking for a finish.
Las Vegas, NV — A year ago, Brazilian middleweight Andre Muniz earned a unanimous decision win on Dana White’s Contender Series Brazil. It wasn’t enough to earn him a UFC contract, however. Luckily, the English-language version of the series opted to add some international flavor this year, and Muniz was back for a second look Tuesday, opposite Taylor Johnson.
This time, Muniz secured a rear-naked choke to earn a first round finish. And with it, a UFC contract.
“I’m so emotional. I put my whole life, a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice,” Muniz told media outlets including Cageside Press following the fight. “The fight was crazy, he came crazy. But I managed to connect [with] good hands. He felt it. When we went to the ground, I knew I was going to finish somehow, and that’s what I managed to do.”
It was the end of an emotional roller coaster for Muniz, who improved to 18-4 with the win. “I felt a lot of pressure coming into this fight. It was my second chance,” he admitted. “I knew I probably wouldn’t have a third chance. So I came to the fight looking for the KO, looking for the finish. The fight was crazy, but I managed to finish and secure my UFC contract, and I’m so happy.”
The latest addition to the UFC roster now wants to get back to work. “I’m a new guy in the UFC, I’m happy to be here, but I want to fight soon. If it was in Brazil — I’ll fight where ever they send me to, but I want to fight in Brazil, definitely.”
Watch the full Contender Series Season 3, Week 7 press scrum with Andre Muniz above!
