Las Vegas, NV – Another fight is another win for UFC welterweight Rinat Fakhretdinov after he earned a decision victory over Bryan Battle at UFC Vegas 66 on Saturday night.
“I feel really good about getting fights more often now. Before I didn’t fight as often, now I get fights much more often, and I’m really happy about it,” Fakhretdinov told Cageside Press among other media through a translator at his post-fight scrum.
“This has been my dream. I’m fighting in the UFC and I’m really happy about it.”
Fakhretdinov (20-1) dominated Battle on the ground repeatedly taking the TUF 29 winner down and dominating positions on the ground. During the fight the broadcast team mentioned that he would have a harder time finding opponents after that performance.
“You know there’s lot of warriors in the UFC. Warriors like Bryan Battle who accepted the fight so I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for people to accept the fight,” he said.
“I think there’s a lot of brave guys here.”
Fakhretdinov was an underdog to Battle in this fight, and he knew it going in.
“He’s a champion of TUF. He’s got three victories in a row in UFC. I was told that I have no chances against him. I came in here and I showed what I’m able to do and so I feel really good about it,” said Fakhretdinov.
“It’s now time of new fighters, new heroes, it’s time now to remove the old fighters, the gate keepers from top 15. And with my hands here that’s what I will do. I will clean it up and I will make sure to get there.”
The goal for 2023 is a simple one. Win and get ranked.
“To get into top 15.”
