UFC light heavyweight Modestas Bukasukas is really taking it all in on his second run in the UFC coming off his victory over Ion Cutelaba at UFC 315 on Saturday night.
Bukauskas (18-6) entered the UFC the first time in 2020. After getting a first round finish in his first fight with the promotion he went onto drop his next three. He was subsequently cut from the UFC, but then made his return in 2023 after a 2-0 run back with Cage Warriors.
“It’s mad because 26 realistically in fighting isn’t like crazy, crazy young. You got guys now that are doing well, 26, but everyone’s journey is different,” Bukauskas told Cageside Press among other reporters at his post-fight scrum.
“I definitely feel that for me. Maybe that was part of my personal journey.”
The time away from the UFC was necessary in Bukauskas’ mind as it lit a fire under him to improve. Even a knee injury is seen as a positive in a way.
“I needed to do it better a little bit later. I needed to learn from those mistakes otherwise I would never be able to do what I’m doing right now. So I look at that as a blessing. I had to go through that,” he said.
“I’m actually very grateful that my knee got tore up, I’m very grateful that I got cut the first time around. Because it wouldn’t have given me the sense of urgency or even just the way that I approach the game.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Modestas Bukauskas above.
