New York, NY — Billy Quarantillo may be six fights into his UFC career (counting DWCS), but the featherweight has finally arrived on the big stage. He faces Shane Burgos in the main card of UFC 268 this Saturday at the sold out Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“So last year all APEX fights. I fought there five times already so I’m sure the environment’s going to be a little bit different,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press during Wednesday’s media day promoting the event. “Having a couple hundred people at the APEX to sold-out Madison Square Garden, it’s definitely going to be just super nerves and emotions and I just can’t wait for it.”
Quarantillo (16-3) is coming off a TKO victory over Gabriel Benitez in July and gets a fan-favorite in Burgos for his first PPV appearance.
“I think he’s going to bring the same approach. He just has one style that very fan-friendly. He likes to bang, he doesn’t mind getting hit, he likes to come forward so I’m expecting all of it. I’m expecting a three-round war,” Quarantillo predicted. “He’s coming off a couple losses but he looked great in both those fights. I’m expecting the best Shane Burgos and I’m preparing myself for the best Shane Burgos that has ever fough before.”
The large stage of MSG is not lost on Quarantillo whose goal is to be a big name in the UFC featherweight division by the end of the night.
“I think every fight I’m always trying to put myself on a higher platform. Obviously you get more money, bigger paychecks, closer to the championship belt the more people that know you. But I think there was a reason why they bumped us up to the main card. I think the bosses and I think the fans kind of know what to expect when they see a Shane Burgos fight. I’m kind of getting that reputation too. You know if it’s a Billy Q fight it’s going to be a banger. I’ve had some pretty good fights so far in the UFC. I just want to keep adding to that and this is the biggest platform that I’ve been on so far.”
Recently added to the UFC lightweight roster was Paddy Pimblett who is actually in New York for UFC 268. Quarantillo has a dislike of sorts for the newcomer and wasn’t completely quiet about it at media day. After admitting that he hadn’t seen him around New York just yet he did open up a bit as to why he’s not a big fan of “The Baddy”.
“You know it’s not my dislike for Paddy. He’s obviously blown up quite a bit, he’s got a zillion followers, he’s just kind of unproven right now. He’s 1-0 in the UFC, I was 1-0 in the UFC a long time ago. I’m happy for Paddy I don’t want to come up here and sound like a hater because he didn’t do anything wrong. He’s got that charismatic character which a lot of people follow and like. I don’t hate on Paddy, but you know, it’s almost like a little bit of jealousy that he came in got one fight and he’s already blown up like that,” Billy Q said with a smile.
Watch the full UFC 268 media day appearance from Billy Quarantillo above. More coverage of the event can be found below. UFC 268 takes place Saturday November 6 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.
