If there was any kind of graduation of sorts for a UFC fighter then featherweight Yadier Del Valle believes he did just that with his win over Connor Matthews at UFC Vegas 106 on Saturday night.
Del Valle (9-0) kept his undefeated record intact by submitting Matthews via first round rear-naked choke.
“I’m very happy. I’m realizing my childhood dreams of having the best job in the world that a fighter can have,” Del Valle told reporters including Cageside Press at his post-fight scrum.
“I feel like I graduated tonight. Like the doctor that graduated, spent his entire life studying to graduate, that’s how I feel today. I graduated.”
A heck of a graduation to say the least as Del Valle didn’t just win, but showed his chops on the ground. Normally known for being a striker his ground game shone bright.
“Truthfully my coaches and I were expecting the finish regardless of whether it came by knockout or submission. We did our job today and we finished the fight quicker than we expected,” he said.
“We were looking for the knockout, but it happens. The fight ended up on the ground and we finished it by rear-naked choke. I love that it happened that way because people think I can only strike. I can take the fight to the ground and dominate as well.”
With no injuries to speak of following the fight Del Valle is ready to return
“Thank God we came out with no injuries. I’ve got some business to handle when I get back to Houston including opening up my Cuban restaurant. I’ll get back to training as soon as possible right into fight camp, and wait for the call,” he said.
“We’ll be ready to fight anybody.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Yadier Del Valle above.
* Translated by Cageside Press’ Eddie Law
