Vancouver — Canadian bantamweight Charles Jourdain entered UFC Vancouver’s Fight Week a preliminary card fighter, and finished it by earning a Performance of the Night bonus on the event’s main card.
That little promotion came care of none other than Hunter Campbell, who has become one of the most recognizable execs in the UFC outside of Dana White himself.
“Hunter,” Jourdain (17-8-1) confirmed when asked about the circumstances around his promotion and what it told him. “I arrived at the weigh-in, and they said ‘no Charles’ — finally on the main card. Because I saw Hunter and Sean [Shelby, UFC matchmaker] talk to the guys; they came and told me ‘no Charles.’ Then I did the face-off with [Davey] Grant, he [Hunter] said ‘I’m the one who put you [on the main card], there’s no way you’re fighting on the prelims in Canada. We like you.’ Boom, put us on the main card.”
What it comes down to is “recognition, I think,” added Jourdain. “I did quite good in my bantamweight debut, and I was like ‘okay, prelims in Canada.’ It’s not the end of the world, the pay is the same.”
Still, he was happy that someone with Campbell’s position (Chief Business Officer) in the UFC hierarchy saw to it to make the switch. “I was very, very honored to have him say ‘no, there’s no way you’re fighting on the prelims in Canada.'”
After submitting Grant via guillotine, his second straight finish with the choke and second straight post-fight bonus, the Quebec native called out Marcus McGee. He also noted that he’s not calling out the same names everyone else is chasing.
As to why, “I like dangerous people,” noted Jourdain, adding “I think that’s why I’m 8-7 [in the UFC]. That’s why I’m calling those guys out.”
“Marcus McGee, I think it makes sense also. I remember when I did my first entry in the top 15, it was against Shane Burgos, he was #14. I think Marcus McGee’s the same. That could be a little twist of fate, and I get my hands on McGee because I really like his style.”
Watch the full UFC Vancouver post-fight press conference with Charles Jourdain above.
