Newark, NJ – Even with his victory at UFC 288, UFC featherweight Movsar Evloev was not completely happy with his win over Diego Lopes on Saturday night.
“Yeah I was thinking I will finish this guy. Every second I was work for that, but that kid was tough you know,” Evloev told Cageside Press among other outlets at his post-fight scrum.
“He’s tough opponent. His debut, he’s dangerous on the ground, and he has heavy punches. It was big risk for me because I took this fight with (someone) with no name.”
Lopes surprised most fans, and Evloev, with his submission attacks and toughness. Evloev was put in some tough spots on the ground, but he felt comfortable in those spots.
“Nah (they) were not even that close. My ground and pound control is top level. Even if I don’t use some submissions, but I don’t let someone submit me,” he said.
Evloev said that in training his partners try to submit him, but he’s too flexible and stable. He said no one can submit him.
Evloev isn’t sure about when he’ll be up for a title shot. He only mentioned that he wants to fight soon, and hopefully in the next couple of months.
“I don’t know, but I will fight next two months with someone who has big name. Big rank in our division,” he said.
“No more ‘no names’. Maybe end of June or beginning of July I will fight.”
Evloev has an opponent in mind as well. The man he was supposed to face at UFC 288 before Lopes stepped in.
“Maybe they organize again fight with Bryce (Mitchell),” he said.
“I’m ready.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Movsar Evloev above.
