Perth – Finally fighting at home once again UFC light heavyweight Tyson Pedro looks to make it three straight victories when he faces Modestas Bukauskas at UFC 284 on Saturday night.
“Feels good for camp to be over for sure. I felt like fighting for the past three weeks, but it’s exciting to be back on home ground man seeing all the fans. It’s been a vibe even at the airport. Fans coming up and stuff so yeah,” Pedro told reporters on Wednesday.
“Perth’s been good to me so hopefully 2 for 2.”
The last time Pedro fought in Australia he fought Shogun Rua who finished him via TKO. That was in 2018.
“Yeah and he’s (Rua) an asshole because then he retired. I wanted that one back. Obviously it was hard, but it was all supposed to happen for a reason,” Pedro laughed.
“I’m back here now and ready to get it done.”
Pedro was originally set to take on Mingyang Zhang (16-6) who would have been making his UFC debut, but withdrew from the bout. Modestas Bukauskas stepped in for Zhang on short notice returning to the UFC after two fights in Cage Warriors.
“It was a nice change of pace because the last two guys I fought I think got cut from the UFC so it’s good to bring someone back in. It’s actually a better fight I think for the fans anyway. I’m just very glad that he took it on a weeks notice because I still get to get paid,” Pedro said.
Normally an Australian card would also include fan favorite UFC heavyweight Tai Tuivasa who is known for knockouts and his post-fight celebratory “shoey”. Pedro will be having none of that on Saturday night.
“Hell no. That’s his. It’s disgusting. He can keep that bro, like, that’s not OUR thing, that’s HIS thing,” Pedro laughed.
“Even Laura, she tricked me into a shoey, but like it’s because it was a fresh shoe. Yeah that’s it for me for shoeys.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Tyson Pedro above. Pedro takes on Modestas Bukauskas in the prelims of UFC 284 on Saturday night in Perth, Australia.
