Off Guard: Ex-UFC fighter Boston Salmon moving to featherweight, keeping same goals in mind

Boston Salmon is starting over.

Salmon (6-3 MMA) was released by the UFC in late 2019 after back-to-back losses to Khalid Taha and Randy Costa. The defeats were the lone performances of his promotional tenure.

Six months after his most recent fight, Salmon is eying a return to the cage. However, unlike most of his career to date, which has been spent at bantamweight, Salmon will compete at 145 pounds going forward.

“I have a lot more to prove,” Salmon told MMA Junkie. “I had my shot at the UFC. I had two fights in there. I wasn’t able to perform. I had to figure out what was wrong. I looked back on my two losses, which I lost ultimately at the scales. My next step is at 145. I’m making the change at featherweight. I’m a free agent now. I’m looking for the best opportunities. The fire is still there. The prospect people thought I was back then is still there. I just have to figure out what exactly is wrong.”

While Salmon only had two shots in the UFC, he’s not bitter. He said he’s come to terms with the fact he’s no longer on the roster – and has used that as motivation. He’s working to make the necessary adjustments, but his MMA goals haven’t changed.

“That’s how the UFC is,” Salmon said. “Things can’t always go the way you want them to. You’ve got to be accepting. You’ve got to be able to adapt. Those two losses mean a lot to me. It still sparks a fire. I could retire right now and go on with plan B or plan C, but I still (have) a lot more to prove in this sport.

“I know I can become champion. I believe in that 100 percent.”

Watch MMA Junkie catch Boston Salmon “Off Guard” in the video above.