After choking Espinosa out cold at UFC Raleigh, Alex Perez wants Askarov

RALEIGH, N.C. – Alex Perez beat Jordan Espinosa with a technical submission Saturday on the main card at UFC on ESPN+ 24 in Raleigh, N.C.

Take a look inside the fight with Perez, who won for the second straight time after a loss to upcoming title challenger Joseph Benavidez in November 2018.

Result: Alex Perez def. Jordan Espinosa via technical submission (arm triangle) – Round 1, 2:33
Updated records: Jordan Espinosa (14-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) vs. Alex Perez (22-5 MMA, 4-1 UFC)
Key stat: Perez outstruck Espinosa 16-2.

Perez on the fight’s key moment

“The position I got him with was a little unorthodox, but I just felt that it was tight enough, so I kept my squeeze going and put him out. I practice my squeeze all the time. I burn my arms out and then go through those sequences. I was ready if he survived. I was ready for war. But I’ll take this for sure.”

Perez on starting 2020 with a win

“(It) feels great to kick off the year like this. Jordan is great – probably one of the tougher opponents I’ve had to go up against. His style is crazy. Thank you to my team – my training partners and camp were amazing for this one. ”

Perez on what he wants next

“I’d like Askar Askarov next. He’s a wrestler, I’m a wrestler, and we both like to stand, so why not? I’d love to get on that Khabib (Nurmagomedov) vs. Tony Ferguson card. That’d give me a little break, and then come back ready to work.”

To hear more from Perez, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.