LAS VEGAS – Tafon Nchukwi may only be four fights into his MMA career, but he already has the UFC president raving about him.
Nchukwi (4-0) earned a UFC contract Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 32, thanks to a huge head-kick knockout of Al Matavao in the night’s featured bout.
A proven finisher, Nchukwi is honored to have gotten Dana White’s attention, who compared the newly signed light heavyweight to Mike Tyson.
“Hearing him say that, that’s really high praise,” Nchukwi told reporters, including MMA Junkie, after his win at the UFC Apex. “It just boosts my confidence even more. It makes me want to get right back in the gym and work so I can’t disappoint his view on me.”
He continued, “I definitely appreciate this challenge because everybody is going to be coming in, and I know they’re going to be looking to take me out and that’s just going to bring more eyes towards me, and they’re going to end up in the same place as all the other ones.”
Nchukwi’s corner saw an opening for the head kick against Matavao, but Nchukwi was patient with his approach until he finally unloaded the devastating blow in Round 2, leaving his opponent out cold on the canvas.
“I saw that every time I threw something, he would go out that way,” Nchukwi said. “I mean, coach was calling it, but I was being hesitant and then finally I was like, ‘OK, let’s get this thing done.’ Once I threw that same combination, I watched him peep out that way and I just let that kick fly.”
To hear more from Nchukiwi, check out the video above.
DWCS 32’s Tafon Nchukwi says high praise from Dana White ‘just boosts my confidence even more’
