Las Vegas — After earning a big first-round finish, smashing away with punches and elbows, against Tommy Cuozzi on the Contender Series this week, featherweight Ramiro Jimenez had a bit of a wait to see if he’d made it to the UFC.
Speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press following the bout, Jimenez (10-0) said he was pretty confident he’d get the contract. “I finish people. I think that’s what the organization wants, to finish your opponents. And that’s what I do the best,” he noted.
Of course, Cuozzi didn’t go away easy, even if it was a first-round finish. “Everyone here wants to get that contract, so I understand the passion that he has in that moment,” said Jimenez. That said, he added, “I was surprised.”
Unlike some other recent Contender Series winners, Jimenez isn’t looking to rush into his UFC debut.
“I prefer to take my time, to see what I stand up right now, and talk to my coaches. They want the best for me, so I want to hear them, to see what’s next. I’m not rushing it.”
Ramiro Jimenez also addressed the surreal moment when his opponent took a selfie with him at this week’s Contender Series weigh-in.
“He was a nice guy, just it’s not the right moment to be super friendly,” said Jimenez. “But I’m not disrespecting everyone. If he wants a selfie, I’ll give him [one]. Just with respect, I’m not his friend in that moment. Just take the selfie, and that’s it.”
Watch the full Dana White’s Contender Series 2025 Week 2 post-fight appearance by Ramiro Jimenez above.
