Philadelphia — Philly’s own Jeremiah Wells pulled off an inspiring come-from-behind submission of Myktybek Orolbai at UFC 330 on Saturday, then shocked many by suggesting he’d retire if the promotion didn’t steer him into the top 15 next.
Welterweight Wells (14-4-1) is 5-2 in the UFC and has won back-to-back fights, but he had one glove off in the octagon while suggesting to Joe Rogan that it was top 15 or bust.
Speaking backstage with media outlets including Cageside Press on Saturday, Wells expanded on the subject, suggesting the UFC wasn’t keen on promoting him as a soon-to-be 40-year old.
“To be honest, I do want to come back, but if I’m not going to go forward, then I don’t. I’m a talented fighter. I just, because of my age, I feel like they don’t want to promote me or my fights,” stated Wells, adding “because I’m not really talkative. But I can be talkative, or hire someone to help me, whatever. I’ll start spitting my sh*t.”
His age might be chronologically nearing 40, but it seems Jeremiah Wells isn’t feeling it. “My 40 is 33. I’m a different type of 40,” he exclaimed. “Nobody is like me. I’m unique. I end up training with all these young guys and they are like ‘oh my god, what’s your age? I thought you were my age.’ No, I’m just blessed, I’m blessed by the hand of god.”
“I’ve got enough time, I’ve got a couple more years to do this. If they see something in me and they want to let me go further, I’ll stay. Otherwise I’ll just hang it up. And this will be a better place to hang it up than any other city.”
Wells also gave Cageside Press a message for his son, who didn’t have the chance to be in attendance at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday.
“I’m always going to be proud of you, no matter what. There’s going to be hard times, there’s going to be good times, but just embrace it all and live your life to the fullest, and everything will work out for you,” said Wells, adding his love.
Watch the full UFC 330 post-fight press conference with Jeremiah Wells above.
