Kansas City, MO – UFC bantamweight Pedro Munhoz is back in the octagon following an unfortunate end to his previous fight where he suffered an eye-poke and was unable to continue. He returns at UFC Kansas City against Chris Gutierrez on Saturday night.
“It took me completely two months to be able to train 100% again. (It was the kind of injury that) it doesn’t seem to aggravate for the people outside, but you’re being there and literally not be able to see (is) something kind of worrying, you know,” Munhoz told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“Thankfully everything went good and I was training hard two months after that. Training a little before that, but like sparring and everything, two months after that.”
That wasn’t the end of the matter for Munhoz who had to deal with Sean O’Malley, the opponent who injured him, saying he didn’t actually poke him in the eye. Add on top of that the swarms of social media users going after Munhoz about it as well.
Munhoz took it all in stride.
“It could be (difficult) if you let that affect yourself. I been in this sport a long time man, fought many people, but that was definitely the first time that I got so much hate on social media. It’s also what he present himself, all the stuff he do on social media, kind of like you get a follower for that,” he said.
“To see that it made me realize that a lot of this young generation they kind of like hateful things, the trash talk, and things like that. I’m sure Sean, I don’t know him on a personal level, but it says a lot when a person apologize (to) you in the octagon for poking you in the eye.”
O’Malley apologized to Munhoz in the octagon following the bout, but his tune changed once he hit social media after the event.
“Then on the other hand he goes and makes fun of that situation itself. I came from a generation (in) this sport where we fight for the honor, and not much for the crowd. Even though he’s aware that he hurt me, and goes besides that and makes fun just to get your followers and laugh and make fun of,” he said.
“It was shady.”
At UFC Kansas City he faces Chris Gutierrez who is making his way up the ranks.
“Another big fight for me. Another big athlete. He’s an up-and-coming fighter. Fights very strategic and it’s going to be a great match. I feel that I’m coming to this match with a lot of big bouts under my resume fighting a lot of former champions,” he said.
“I feel that I’m definitely the stronger guy coming to this bout. I can’t wait.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Pedro Munhoz above. He takes on Chris Gutierrez at UFC Kansas City on Saturday night.
