PARIS – Life is good for Nathaniel Wood at featherweight.
The Englishman picked up his second consecutive win since moving up from bantamweight as Wood (19-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) defeated Charles Jourdain by unanimous decision Saturday at UFC Fight Night 209.
It was an exciting and dominant showing by Wood, who is high on what he can do in this new division.
“I think I can go all the way,” Wood told reporters at Accor Arena. “I think I can go all the way at 135, but it just wasn’t happening. I just wasn’t active enough. The UFC doesn’t always give me the most amount of notice. I rather be asked to take a fight on six weeks, eight weeks notice, but 135 I just needed too much time to make weight.
“So yeah, I feel quick at 145. The weight cuts are a little easier, which means I can focus on my opponents and actually have a life, not be sitting there thinking about food all the time. So yeah, I feel a lot more happy and healthier at this weight.”
As far as what’s next, Wood has no opponent in mind, but he intends to stick around at featherweight. He’s been having a lingering issue with one of his hands and believes he’ll need to take some time off to address the issue.
“I do need to get my hand sorted,” Wood said. “My hand has been giving me grief for about two years now. I think it needs operating on, but I just been having to crack on with it.
“I hurt it on Charles’ head tonight, so I might actually have to get this thing sorted out for once. But I’m hearing stories that next year there’s maybe going to be a stadium card or something like this in London. I’m a London boy, so I need to be on that. So yeah, I won’t be looking to take too much time off.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 209.
Nathaniel Wood ‘a lot more happy and healthier’ at featherweight after UFC Fight Night 209
