New York City — Heading into UFC 309’s Fight Week, David Onama wasn’t entirely sure he would have an opponent for the massive card in New York City.
Luckily, the promotion came through, replacing the injured Lucas Almeida with newcomer Roberto Romero. A firefight ensued, with Onama coming away with a decision win, surviving a knockdown in the process.
“Coming into the fight, not having an opponent, I’m just glad they found me somebody,” Onama (13-2) said following the win, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press.
“Honestly it didn’t matter who they put in front of me. I was prepared through my whole fight camp, so I was ready for this week. It didn’t matter who they put in front of my. But I knew my manager was going to find me somebody, and I just had to stay ready. That was that.”
In the opening round, Roberto caught Onama clean, a scary moment, and one that pushed the “Silent Assassin” to bounce back in the second frame.
“I knew the kid was going to come to fight. When he did that, I was like, I needed to recover, get him back in the second round. Which I did,” Onama noted. “Things happen, I knew this kid was going to come out to fight. In New York City, MSG, who wouldn’t come out and perform like that?”
Now, it’s on to the next one, and Onama hopes the promotion can rebook him against Lucas Almeida in the near future. After all, he’s already dedicated one training camp to the Brazilian.
“I still want that fight. I want that fight in the future. Hopefully February or March. I still want him,” exclaimed Onama. “Everything I did was for him. I feel like I wouldn’t have got dropped today… yeah I want him back. He’s the one that caused all this, I want him back.”
Onama added that he hadn’t wanted to say too much when Almeida pulled out, having been forced out of bouts due to injury himself, “but I want that fight back,” he finished.
Watch the full UFC 309 post-fight press conference with David Onama above.
