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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson

Khaos Williams wants to get back to being ‘must-see TV’ after split decision win at UFC 288

NEWARK, N.J. – Khaos Williams beat Rolando Bedoya with a split decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 288 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Take a look inside the fight with Williams, who got back in the win column a year after a split decision loss to Randy Brown.

Rolando Bedoya vs. Khaos Williams

Result: Khaos Williams def. Rolando Bedoya via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Williams (14-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Bedoya (14-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: Bedoya landed more total strikes and at a much higher percentage than Williams, but came up short with two judges.

Williams on the fight's key moment

May 6, 2023; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Khaos Williams (red gloves) fights Rolando Bedoya (blue gloves) during UFC 288 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

“I was pretty confident, but you just never know unless you get the job done. You just never know. I felt like in the first round, when I was catching him a little bit, that was some of the highlights of the fight. … I felt like the first round, just setting the tone, it was pretty much how I knew it was going to go.”

Williams on preparing for a relative unknown

May 6, 2023; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Khaos Williams (red gloves) fights Rolando Bedoya (blue gloves) during UFC 288 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

“Obviously a newcomer, you just kind of never know. It’s a mystery, but it really wasn’t a surprise. I never sleep on nobody when it comes to a fight. It’s a fight, and everybody’s got a puncher’s chance. I knew he was coming. He was, what, on an 11-fight winning streak? I never judge a book by its cover, and like I said, I never bring a pillow to the fight. I’m always ready for whoever. He was a little tougher than I thought he was going to be, though.”

Williams on what he wants next

May 6, 2023; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Khaos Williams (red gloves) fights Rolando Bedoya (blue gloves) during UFC 288 at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

“Whoever they throw in front of me (is who I’ll fight next). It’s always going to be a good fight, and I’m always going to do what I do and put on for the fans. It’s must-see TV and I’m here to just put on (a show), be an entertainer, and just continue to try to get the job done.”

To hear more from Williams, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 288.

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