UFC APEX – UFC featherweight Kyle Nelson was originally set to take on #9 ranked Calvin Kattar, but due to injury, gets replacement Steve Garcia at UFC Vegas 97 on Saturday night.
“We got the offer for Calvin Kattar like a few months ago. It was supposed to be August 10th, and then it got pushed back. Then obviously Kattar had to pull out. Then we got Steve Garcia,” Nelson told reporters while holding his youngest son in his lap on Wednesday.
“Definitely had a lot of notice.”
Nelson (16-5-1) couldn’t hide the disappointment of going from a top 10 matchup to an unranked one with Kattar pulling out of their fight.
“I mean a little bit disappointed. I wasn’t expecting like a top 15 opponent anyways so when they offered me Kattar it was a bit of a surprise. I thought it was a great opportunity for me, a great matchup, and yeah the opportunity to kind of jump in the top 15,” he said.
“But I think Steve is probably going to be just as tough of an opponent as Kattar. Just maybe not as much recognition.”
Nelson brought his son, Knox, to media day and took the chance to introduce him.
“This is my son Knox. He’s 5-months-old. This is his second fight week though. He came over to Atlantic City with me,” said Nelson.
Would the youngest Nelson enter the family business when it’s time?
“I don’t know. He definitely seems interested in a lot of it,” he said.
“So yeah we’ll see.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Kyle Nelson above. He takes on Steve Garcia at UFC Vegas 97.
