Las Vegas, NV — Kyler Phillips hopes to be rebooked with Raphael Assuncão in the future.
“The Matrix” returns to the octagon as a top 15 fighter on Saturday at UFC Vegas 32. He is coming off the biggest win of his UFC career thus far when he defeated Song Yadong at UFC 259 via unanimous decision.
Phillips was originally slated to face Assuncão at UFC Vegas 32 on Saturday, however, a bicep injury forced the Brazilian from the card. Instead, Raulian Paiva took his place. Paiva is ranked No. 12 in the flyweight division but is moving up in weight to face Phillips.
It’s not exactly the fight that was advertised. Phillips was asked if he was disappointed with the change of opponents at the UFC Vegas 32 media day on Wednesday.
“Of course, we’re human you know. It was like damn, that was a big opportunity, but this is another opportunity,” said Phillips.
Despite the change in opponent, Phillips isn’t dwelling on what might have been. “If I look at the past and try to change— I can’t do anything about that, there is literally nothing I could do about that,” Phillips observed. “I hope we get a fight in the future, you know, but I got this guy Paiva in front of me and he’s coming to take my head off. So let’s take care of business right here with this guy, and then I’ll be able to go on to the next thing.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 32 media day scrum with Kyler Phillips above.
