21-year-old Fransisco Prado on that retirement tease and move to 170 after UFC on ESPN 49

LAS VEGAS – After a bonus-winning stoppage for his first UFC win, Francisco Prado said he’s not long for the lightweight division.

Prado (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) took out Ottman Azaitar (13-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) with a first-round TKO in a featured bout on the UFC on ESPN 49 main card in Las Vegas on Saturday. Then the 21-year-old said he plans to head up to welterweight on the advice of the UFC Performance Institute.

But it was only after his in-cage interview with Daniel Cormier started with him with his gloves off saying he was retiring. He clarified backstage.

“I’m retiring from this division, from 155,” Prado said at his post-fight news conference at the UFC Apex. “I did (tests) at the UFC PI, and they recommended that I change my division – up for welterweight.”

Prado has fought at 170 pounds before. His pro debut in mid-2019 was at welterweight, but his next fight out three months later, he was at 155. He bounced between the two and even had some fights in the middle.

But now the Argentinian thinks his Saturday sent a message to potential opponents, and if they didn’t get the message, this is what Prado said it is:

“The message is I’m really complete because I was a grappler – now I’m a striker, and now I think I am a good wrestler. In a few years, I don’t have a doubt that I will be champion.”

Check out Prado’s complete post-fight interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 49.