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
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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
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“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
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“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.