ON UFC DEBUT

I thought that was the perfect match-up for me. My manager thought it was the perfect match-up. It’s kind of hard: I felt like I cheated on the test because I had the answers for the test already.

There’s a blueprint out there already, if you watch Cub Swanson, Mark Hominick: it’s the same shot. I didn’t do anything different that these guys didn’t do. It was the same exact shot, and he does it all the time. Roop never learns; he just doesn’t learn. Like, why are you still pulling out like that? So we knew if he pulled out like that, it’s simple — just overhand right.

And that’s what we did.

Font v. Roop 07/05/2014

We practiced, practiced, practiced. And then I set him up as far as I could. I kind of brought him this way and then I brought him back and then jumped on the right hand. But it was like, “OK, this is what we got to hit him with.” And it happened.

It’s kind of like you’re not surprised when you get an A if you had the answers already.

I don’t want to sound cocky but it’s kind of true; you’re not like, “Oooh! I can’t believe I did that!” You’re like, “Well… I had the answers!” Like I knew exactly how to beat him, we just had to make sure that I didn’t mess up; I didn’t get taken down on the cage or get hit with a big head kick or whatever.

So it was kind of like it was great, but I also know what I beat. Roop’s kind of on his way out; he has no chin, he’s been hit a lot. So it’s kind of easy to put a guy like that away.

I just felt like it was just another day in the gym.

I felt like it was today; like when I was out there, I really was more nervous that I wasn’t nervous. Like, “What’s going on — this doesn’t feel right.” The whole time — from the Tuesday when I got there to walking out. They’re like, “You ready?” and I was like, “Yeah, I’m good.” Like, ok: just another day at the gym.

People say it all the time, but it really is. Walked out, and it wasn’t too packed but it was packed enough. I’m sitting there like, “Hmm… I’m good.” The canvas felt amazing, the lights definitely felt brighter but it wasn’t nothing. Like, “What the… Am I being overconfident? Am I cocky right now? What’s going on?”

Once the bell rung, I was like, “Oh, this is easy!” Not necessarily easy, but it doesn’t feel like they build it up to be: “The UFC debut!” It doesn’t feel that way. Like, “They lied to me! This is bullshit! How are you going to lie to me? Come on, man!”

But after I hit him it was like, “Alright, cool. Let’s get to the next one.” My mindset was like I want to get another fight before I even leave here. Obviously didn’t happen that way, but felt confident. Can’t wait to get back in there.