After 13 months away, little bit of everything fight perfect for Kyler Phillips at UFC Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. – Kyler Phillips beat Gabriel Silva with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN+ 27 in Norfolk, Va.

Take a look inside the fight with Phillips, who picked up a win in his UFC debut.

Result: Kyler Phillips def. Gabriel Silva via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Phillips (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Silva (8-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Key stat: Phillips landed nearly 60 percent of his strikes and outstruck Silva 112-43.

Phillips on the fight’s key moment

“He hit me with a good right hand and that knee bar was close, but he was never going to finish it – I would let it break first. … That kid was tough. I knew he would try to wrestle me, but I let him do it a little bit so I could feel his energy, and then I hit him with some big shots. I felt like I could finish him, but I tired myself out a little bit in the first round. I knew I would have him in the second and third, though, and win those wrestling matches and jiu-jitsu transactions. I kept him busy with movement and jabs. He’s tough, but I just kept at it and focused on winning the grappling matches.”

Phillips on fighting after a long layoff

“I hadn’t fought in over a year, so I knew that would be the perfect fight for me. I got to grapple a lot, had some muay Thai and karate stuff, good hard boxing, and ground and pound – so I needed that to get back in this game.”

Phillips on his cardio

“I’m excited. I know I can push that full gas tank. Some people questioned that because I was finishing everyone, but I proved that to everyone tonight.”

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