Kyler Phillips hopes to land in the bantamweight rankings after UFC 299.
Phillips (11-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC) takes on Pedro Munhoz (20-8 MMA, 10-8 UFC) on March 9 at Kaseya Center in Miami. Munhoz, a perennial contender throughout his UFC career, has fought some of the division’s biggest names such as champion Sean O’Malley, former champ Jose Aldo, and current title challenger Marlon Vera.
“I think he still has that good, strong mentality, and he’s always been in that top 10, top five,” Phillips told MMA Junkie Radio of Munhoz. “He’s always been a force, so this guy is just in the way of my goals and dreams, and I just got to get him out of the way.”
Winner of six of his past seven, Phillips sees a win over Munhoz pushing him a big step forward in the bantamweight division.
“That brings me around the top 10,” Phillips said. “But wherever, man. I’m blessed to be able to have an opportunity like this and showcase my heart and skills and my mentality as a fighter and do what I’ve always been doing since I was young. I love challenges. I love a little challenge.
“All it is is the next step. Wherever that next step leads me – I don’t have to focus too much on three steps, but sometimes we could take a step and look forward to that second one. But yeah, I’m going to climb the mountain. I’m going to go all the way to the top.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 299.
Kyler Phillips expects top-10 ranking with UFC 299 win over ‘force’ Pedro Munhoz