Christos Giagos wants to take his career to the next level by facing a notable name.
Giagos (19-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC), who’s coming off a “Performance of the Night” submission of Sean Soriano at UFC 262, wasted no time in calling his next shot. In the pre-fight news conference, Giagos said he wants Donald Cerrone next, but he understands that “Cowboy” will likely get a say considering that it could be his final UFC fight.
But if Giagos doesn’t end up getting Cerrone (36-16-1 MMA, 29-16-1 UFC), he’s targeting another respected veteran in Jim Miller (32-16 MMA, 21-15 UFC), who’s tied with Cerrone for the most fights in UFC history at 37.
“I haven’t heard anything back yet, but to be honest, I hope I get it,” Giagos told MMA Junkie Radio. “I don’t want people to think I’m trying just to get a tune-up fight, like somebody on his way out, but for me it’s like having that experience and obviously I get to use his name as a stepping stool so I think we both win. He gets his fight at 155, but who knows. Who knows what he wants. I think at the end of the day he’ll be able to choose.”
“But as far as a backup plan, I do want a big name,” Giagos said. “Maybe somebody like Jim Miller. Jim Miller could be somebody, everybody else is getting cut. I want somebody who’s a big name, that’s not quite top 15 yet. I want to use a big name to get my shot at the top 15. We’ll see what’s happening, we’ll see what the UFC wants. At the end of the day, I’m employed by them, and I’m just here to fight. If you look at my past fights, I never turned down fights. I’ve fought some of the best already so I’m game for anybody they give me.”
Since rejoining the UFC roster in September 2018, Giagos has won four of six. The California native plans on moving to Florida and checking out some of the state’s top gyms such as American Top Team and MMA Masters as he pushes towards the top 15.
If Christos Giagos doesn’t get Donald Cerrone next, he wants a big name like Jim Miller
