Paris, France – With the shuffle in opponents catching a few fighters off guard UFC bantamweight Taylor Lapilus wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen until he finally got word that he’d be facing Caolan Loughran at UFC Paris on Saturday.
“I was worried. I was worried that this fight wouldn’t be able to happen, but to be honest I was reassured immediately by the UFC that I would be able to fight,” Lapilus told reporters including Cageside Press through a translator on Wednesday.
“I’m incredibly grateful and happy too.”
Lapilus (18-3) missed out on the UFC’s first stop in Paris due to injury. Losing his opponent this time around at UFC Paris it felt like it was happening all over again.
“I said to myself I can’t believe this. I must be cursed. Last time I got injured this time it wasn’t up to me it was my opponent who had a problem. As soon as I found out the news the UFC reassured me that I would be able to fight. I would have an opponent so I felt good in the end,” he said.
He now faces Loughran at UFC Paris whom is making his UFC debut coming off a successful Cage Warriors run.
“As soon as I got the news I obviously looked at some tape, but what you need to know is I actually commentated on one of his fights when he won Cage Warriors so I was able to analyze him. He’s not a new opponent in that respect,” Lapilus told Cageside Press.
“I know him. I know what he’s like. He’s a pretty powerful guy. He’s a good fighter. So from that point of view I think that it’s going to be an interesting fight in that regard. I’m focused on what I can do as well, but obviously he’s a fighter that I know and that I’m sure we’ll matchup well.”
