Sergey Morozov Says “I Just Tried to Live” In First Round at UFC Vegas 57

Las Vegas, NV — For Kazakhstan’s Sergey Morozov, the first round at UFC Vegas 57 was very much about survival.

Bantamweight Morozov (18-5) was up against Brazil’s Raulian Paiva in the fight that saw the Kazakh fighter rocked in the opening minute. That, needless to say, was not part of the plan.

“The plan was moving, cut the distance, like jab, hook. The first round, I completely lost,” he told Cageside Press, speaking via translator following the fight. “I don’t understand what’s going on with me. No focus, no power. First round, I just tried to live. After first round, I felt good, I started working, I heard my corners, and I do all of [what they asked].”

Morozov went on to win a unanimous decision, winning both of the next two rounds. “I’m good, I’m back. After first round, I’m very happy with that,” he stated.

Sharing the card with Shavkat Rakhmonov, Morozov didn’t expect his countryman have any difficulty with Neil Magny. “I’m thinking that Shavkat [will win] this fight, because nobody can [exactly copy] his skills. I don’t think he’s got a problem with this guy.”

Turns out, that prediction was right on the money. Rakhmonov wound up submitting Magny in the second round of UFC Vegas 57’s co-main event.

As for Morozov, he plans to fight again before the end of the year, but isn’t concerned with who that will come against just yet.

“Really I don’t know, I don’t think about it, but I wanna go home, be with my family. End of the year. I’m thinking I will be fighting before the end of the year. But I don’t know who it will be. I’m not thinking about it, I want to be with my family right now. After that, I will think about it.”

Watch the full UFC Vegas 57 post-fight interview with Sergey Morozov above. More coverage from the event can be found below.