PERTH, Australia – Josh Culibao beat Melsik Baghdasaryan with a second-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 284 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Take a look inside the fight with Culibao, who had to rally back in the second after taking a hard kick to the groin in the first.
Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Josh Culibao
Result: Josh Culibao def. Melsik Baghdasaryan via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:02
Updated records: Culibao (11-1-1 MMA, 3-1-1 UFC), Baghdasaryan (7-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC)
Key stat: Culibao won for the third straight time and got his first UFC finish.
Culibao on the fight's key moment
“To be honest, it was just the Aussie crowd cheering me up to just get back in there (after getting kicked in the groin), and I just was like, ‘You know what? I can breathe again. At least let’s just go.’ I was pretty sure I was like only 30 seconds left in the round. I was just like, ‘You know what, let’s just finish this last 30 seconds. I can go have my breath in (between rounds).
“The doctor actually is a bit weird. Doctor was like, ‘In 30 years, I’ve never had to do this.’ And then I just, like, had to pull my pants down in front of him … he had to have a little bit of a feel. Everything was all good. They’re all good, guys. Don’t worry about my nuts. They’re all good.”
Culibao on Baghdasaryan inadvertently motivating him
“I feel amazing right now. I feel on top of the world, and that Perth crowd – wow. This is right up there, top of the feelings right now. Melsik did me a favor (when he pushed me at weigh-ins) and added to it and played the villain. He came in, he did that shove, and then just, yeah. Obviously he played a big part in building this fight up, of being the villain, and sort of gave me a chance to be the superhero in this story. So thank you to Melsik going off of that.”
Culibao on what he wants next
“I want to enjoy Perth for a little bit, so probably, like, get back in the gym in two weeks time and get straight back into it. And I want to fight. I want to be active. I’m ready to go. I want to fight at least two to three more times this year.”
To hear more from Culibao, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.
