LAS VEGAS – Rinat Fakhretdinov was rather critical of his UFC debut performance.
Fakhretdinov (21-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) returned from an almost 17-month layoff to defeat Andreas Michailidis in a lopsided unanimous decision Saturday at UFC Fight Night 207.
His win wasn’t as emphatic as his 55-second knockout of ex-UFC fighter Eric Spicely to punch his ticket to the UFC on “Dana White: Lookin’ for a Fight.” Although he was dominant, Fakhretdinov chalked his debut performance to octagon jitters.
“It could be much better, but I was nervous,” Fakhretdinov told reporters. “It’s my first fight. I was waiting for this fight for a year-and-a-half. Like I said, it could be much, much better, but that’s what happened, and I’m very thankful to Dana White who signed me up. It was magic, and I know I’m gonna progress in the future. Every fight will be better than this one, but you know I’m ready.”
Fakhretdinov may not have gotten his desired finish, but he sees value in going the full 15 minutes where he was able to display his elite grappling.
“Plan A was an early finish. Plan B, of course, going all three rounds,” Fakhretdinov said. “But I think it’s even better for my first fight to go through it, to feel it, and I’m gonna progress. Next time, I promise I’m gonna finish early.”
Rinat Fakhretdinov admits nerves got best of him in UFC Fight Night 207 win, ‘could be much better’
