Las Vegas, NV — Middleweight Armen Petrosyan had a lot on his hands with Christian Leroy Duncan at UFC Vegas 75.
A former basketball player, Duncan threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Armenian standout, using a wide array of spinning attacks and unconventional offense.
That, Petrosyan told media outlets including Cageside Press following fight, is what prevented him from finding the finish in the bout.
“To be honest I was planning to finish him, I thought I was going to do that,” admitted Petrosyan (8-2), speaking via translator. “I almost did it, I almost got him out of there, but the reason why I didn’t is because of how tough he was. He was very unorthodox, very hard to figure out, and I think that because of that, he’s got a really good future ahead of him.”
Next up for Petrosyan, if he gets his way, is a fight on UFC 294 in October in Abu Dhabi. The 32-year old is targeting a ranked opponent, though which on doesn’t particularly matter to him.
“I would love to fight in Abu Dhabi in October. I’m going to be in great shape by then,” said Petrosyan. “It’s just that this camp was quite long because the opponent switched, so it was hard by the end to keep getting prepared and keep up staying in shape. But other than that, Abu Dhabi in October, I would love to fight with anybody in the top 15.”
Armen Petrosyan’s was originally expected to face Andre Petroski at UFC 288 last month, until Petroski pulled out. Moving forward, anyone with a number will do, Petrosyan reiterated.
“Anybody, really. Right now, [Jared] Cannonier is about to fight [Marvin] Vettori, I can take either one of them. Anybody in the top 15. I don’t see any kind of obstacles for me, I think I can take any of those guys apart. Even everybody who is in the top 15 right now I don’t think possesses too much of a challenge for me.”
Cannonier, who won Saturday’s main event, has stated he won’t fight down in the rankings, so that option at least appears to be off the table.
Watch the full UFC Vegas 75 post-fight press conference appearance by Armen Petrosyan above.
