Tanner Boser credits deer meat for easy first cut to light heavyweight at UFC on ESPN 44

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tanner Boser admits his drop to light heavyweight was easier than he expected and he credits one food in particular for the smooth transition.

“My main diet was deer meat,” Boser told MMA Junkie on Wednesday at UFC on ESPN 44 media day. “It’s worked perfectly. I’m my own nutritionist. … I just had it, so I ate it. I made it differently.”

Boser (20-9-1 MMA, 4-4 UFC) has competed eight times in the UFC at heavyweight, though often tipped the scales at the lower end of the weight classes’ boundaries. Recently, Boser shared a picture of himself post-training where he showed off a ripped physique.

“I’m faster and I felt I was already fast,” Boser said. “My cardio is even better and it was already good. Maybe I’m a little bit sharper than before, but all in all, I’m a strong guy and I think my power is the same.”

Glad I have great friends that will always fight me when I need them to.

8 days til fight day. #UFCKansasCity pic.twitter.com/mPmF6dNXJI

— Tanner Boser (@BulldozerBoser) April 7, 2023

Saturday at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., Boser takes on Ion Cutelaba (16-9-1 MMA, 5-8-1 UFC), a fighter known for his do-or-die fighting style. Boser thinks the matchup is a perfect welcome to light heavyweight.

“I like it for a lot of reasons, but the main one is that it’s not going to be a boring fight,” Boser said. “There’s no way. I’m not going to be a guy who’s trying to stall out and be boring. Me and Ion are going to kill each other. This car is an impending car crash. There’s no way that it’s boring. It’s going to be violent from start to finish and I’m sure there’s going to be a finish.”

For as long as he’s competed, Boser has proudly represented Canada on his sleeve. Despite that, Boser said he’s avoided thinking about the recent announcement UFC 289 will be held June 10 in Vancouver.

“I’d rather be comatose or hospitalized with a win than lose and not be injured,” Boser said. “We’re going to flip a coin, man. Who knows.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 44.