There’s little question that Aaron Jeffery’s win over Austin Vanderford at Bellator 284 on Friday was the biggest of his career.
The Canadian stepped into the fight this past Friday on short notice after #9 ranked middleweight Anthony Adams pulled out. Vanderford, ranked #2 in the division, was coming off a title bid against Gegard Mousasi earlier this year.
Jeffery (13-3) took less than two minutes to finish him with right hands. Now, the question is where Jeffery himself, in just his second fight under the Bellator MMA banner, will land in the rankings.
“I don’t know if they put me in right at number two, or do they put me in at a five or a six? We’re going to find out in a few days,” he stated during his post-fight media appearance, speaking to outlets including Cageside Press.
Bellator’s rankings are voted on by members of the media. There’s no guarantee Jeffery will land at #2, but he’ll almost certainly have a number next to his name later this week.
The Canadian, originally from Tilsonburg, Ontario and fighting out of Niagara Top Team in St. Catharines, told Cageside Press on Friday that despite relying on his right hand, he hadn’t seen anything ahead of the fight indicating it was the path to victory.
“No, we just basically repped uppercuts and knees trying to time a shot, and I don’t know if I threw a single one of either of those,” Jeffery admitted. “I wasn’t really planning on throwing those overhands, but I guess it worked.”
Even after a big win on a big stage, the former Contender Series fighter has no plans on making any callouts for his next fight. “I’m not a big callout guy. I’ll say my silly joke again, just give me some scrub, sign a bum, let me get another highlight reel, and another paycheck, and then we can talk.”
That having been said, having toppled Vanderford, if a title shot came his way, Aaron Jeffery would most certainly consider it.
“I think I would take it. It’s silly to turn down opportunities like that I think. I think I would take it.”
Watch the full Bellator 284 post-fight media scrum with Aaron Jeffery above.
