“After two losses you start to think, I’m young, but still you start to think about you know if I belong in this level. Specially coming off the regional ranks into PFL. Coming from two losses I was like ‘Man do I belong at this level?’ should I take a step back and just start from the beginning or what,” Martinez told the media at his post-fight scrum.

Defeating Ray, a man that holds wins against some of the best lightweights in the UFC, made the win even more important for Martinez who himself was riding a two-fight losing streak.

“Dude this is Stevie Ray. He beat big names in the UFC. The guy is tough, tough as they come to be honest. Scottish people are tough. We all know Braveheart (the movie) that’s actually his nickname too. I knew it was going to be tough. The first thing that I talking to myself I was like ‘You know what, I don’t want to get caught with a big left hand.’ But knowing him there’s a good chance I’m going to get caught so mentally I was preparing myself. If it happens I need to be ready for the rebound,” said Martinez.

“There’s a saying ‘Anything that can go wrong will go wrong’ and that’s exactly what happened. We managed to overcome it and came back. We’re here now with the victory and that’s all that matters.”

The emotions began to swell up in Martinez as he spoke on what he’s been through during camp for this fight.

“After earning the victory today it’s really reinvigorating so man I feel great right now. Very emotional. It’s a very emotional moment for me right now.”

Martinez recently became a father to a baby girl, but also lost his father-in-law in late 2021. He detailed the emotions at the scrum.

“I’m just a new father now. Before the fight first thing I did was I took a picture. I need to go fight for my little girl. I dedicated this fight to my father-in-law who just passed away last October. We still are mourning from that loss and going through training camp, putting all those emotions to the side, because you cannot come into the sport with emotions. You have to be cold-minded, cool headed, and yeah I’m very thankful. So if my wife is listening this fight is dedicated to Pops and my little baby girl,” Martinez said.

“It feels good to feel a little bit right now. I can let myself cry a little bit. It feels good. I’ll give myself a week and get back on the horse. Get ready for the next one.”

Watch the full PFL 1 2022 post-fight scrum with Alex Martinez above. More coverage from the event can be found below.

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“Went out there and tried to be bit more relaxed than I normally am. I was feeling him out he was moving his head well, I land that jab, and he kind of rushed forward and I got the clinch. My base is wrestling so I was happy to take him down. He kept working back up but he kind of giving me good positions to just take him back down,” Wilkinson told reporters in his post-fight scrum.

This was Wilkinson’s PFL debut and to start it off with a finish was exactly what he was looking for.

“I definitely wanted a finish. That probably sums up me as a fighter pretty well that fight. So it was a good debut,” said Wilkinson.

Following his release from the UFC Wilkinson moved up to 205 pounds and fought twice before signing with PFL.

“After the release from the UFC I was cutting a load of weight. I didn’t feel myself in my last MMA fight in the UFC at middleweight. I took some time off after the release. I had a few kickboxing fights at light heavyweight, 95 kilos, and I decided it was much more comfortable for me. I was enjoying fighting a lot more not stressing about the weight cut and killing myself like a week or two before. Main thing was performing better, and I can eat a bit more chocolate,” Wilkinson said.

As for calling someone out for his next bout Wilkinson he declined to choose an opponent.

“I haven’t really looked. Honestly someone else asked me that, if I’ve been looking at other fighters, there’s ten of them. I have one fight I don’t know who I’m going to fight next so there’s no point worrying about who’s next,” he said.

“Whoever they give me I’m happy with, yeah.”

Watch the rest of Rob Wilkinson’s post-fight scrum above. For more from PFL’s 2022 season opener check out CagesidePress.com

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Speaking to the media following his bout at PFL 1 on Wednesday night Powell spoke about his performance.

“Good, it could have been better, but ultimately I knew I was the better athlete. I knew I was fitter I was conditioned better. So I knew my opportunity would be there when I found it. I was waiting I could feel him getting weaker and weaker and I found my opportunity,” Powell told reporters in his post-fight scrum.

Being the first bout on the card and the first finish had Powell hoping for a check going his way after the event would end.

“Lovely. Let’s hope no more knockouts so I can get a bonus,” Powell joked.

The win over Williams was the third KO finish for Powell in his career.

“I’ve got this weird thing with knockouts. I get these little tingles and I just see it. Boom I throw it and the guys sleeping. I felt his body go soft, he got lazy, he got tired, and I just saw the opening.”

Powell was coming off a decision win over Tobias Baker at PFL Challenger Series 8 just 12 days before his fight on Wednesday. The quick turnaround did not deter Powell from taking the bout.

“Never. This is a big opportunity. This is PFL’s opening show. I’d be stupid not to take an opportunity like that. I took it,” Powell said.

As far as a name he’d like to see on a fight contract next Powell wasn’t picky.

“Anyone. I’m a fighter. I don’t care, anyone can get it honestly. Give me a full camp this time,” Powell laughed.

Watch the rest of Simeon Powell’s post-fight scrum above. For more from PFL 1 2022 check out CagesidePress.com

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