Las Vegas, NV – UFC featherweight Andre Fili took a different approach to his bout against Lucas Almeida at UFC 296 on Saturday night.
“I said from the beginning of this fight camp that this is my UFC debut,” Fili told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“And that’s how it felt. Everything about it was perfect. I was early on the fight card. It felt like my debut. Everything just felt like my debut.”
Fili had a focus to him that he credited to his approach during fight camp.
“I was so calm and so in the moment, so present, and I had so much fun. That’s how it felt when I was 19 fighting for $500 bucks at an Indian reservation. That’s how it felt when I was fighting smoker fights in some gym with the windows blacked out. That’s how it felt when I was fighting behind my high school when I was 15,” said Fili.
“I love fighting. I’m a born fighter and I got back to who I am today. Man I can talk a lot but now I’m actually at a loss for words. I don’t have the words to explain how immensely grateful I am for this moment right now.”
His finish of Almeida was heard all around the arena with the cracking sound almost startling some.
ANDRE FILI WITH A NASTY RIGHT HAND 💥
Stream #UFC296 on ESPN2 and ESPN+ 🍿 https://t.co/R7p1InbYK6 pic.twitter.com/jBpJQ5U5Sl
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 17, 2023
“That’s what people keep saying. I didn’t hear it there, but everybody keeps saying the right hand was loud,” Fili said.
“I’m Samoan bro. Just cuz I’m not as big as Tafa or (Tai) Tuivasa or Tyson Pedro…am Samoan, alright? I can f*cking crack. Shout out to the Usos.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Andre Fili above.
