LAS VEGAS – Now a UFC fighter, Thomas Petersen hopes he gets to run things back with Waldo Cortes-Acosta.
Petersen (8-1) earned a UFC contract Tuesday when he submitted Chandler Cole with a second-round keylock in their heavyweight bout at Dana White’s Contender Series 60.
That’s now three wins in a row for the LFA veteran, who has only one loss on his record to fellow Contender Series graduate Cortes-Acosta – and he wants it back.
“Oh yes, but the time will come whenever it happens,” Petersen told reporters during the DWCS 60 post-fight press conference. “But hopefully we meet at the belt. I wish Waldo Cortes the best. I like his coach, he’s a good man too. Yeah, I’d like to fight him, I’d like to beat him, but I have nothing bad to say about the guy.”
The majority of Petersen’s finishes have come in the first round. But going up against a fellow furious finisher, he knew he had to be cautious.
“I know Chandler Cole is a very good opponent, and he’s gotten way better since his last fight,” Petersen said. “I was totally OK with this going to three rounds. I just wanted to dominate. I didn’t have to get him out. I didn’t have to make any mistakes because he’s a dangerous guy. The guy throws like a freaking cannon when he’s throwing so, I just didn’t want to get lit. Not that I couldn’t take it, but I tried to be smart and deadly is what was my plan.”
