LAS VEGAS – Alexandr Romanov beat Blagoy Ivanov with a unanimous decision Saturday to open up the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 47 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Romanov, who got his jiu-jitsu black belt in the cage after his win.
Blagoy Ivanov vs. Alexandr Romanov
Result: Alexandr Romanov def. Blagoy Ivanov via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Romanov (17-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), Ivanov (19-6 MMA, 3-5 UFC)
Key stats: Romanov outstruck Ivanov 104-44 and landed a pair of takedowns to snap a two-fight skid.
Romanov on the fight's key moment
“I feel very great about the fight. Physically, I feel OK besides my left hand. I felt it in the second round. I felt a crack, and I pretty much knew that it was most likely broken. But as one of my friends from Moldova says, ‘We do not have a reverse gear in Moldova, we only go forward.’ So I had to go for another round and a half with most likely a broken hand.”
Romanov on getting his jiu-jitsu black belt after the win
“My coaches are Mike Stewart and Max Jimenez – they’re really high level grapplers. They’ve always told me in practice that I deserve a black belt. … I don’t know how to describe it – maybe one of the biggest victories in my career, in my life.”
Romanov on what he wants next
“I’d love to get back as soon as possible, as soon as I’m cleared by the doctors. That’s what I would love to do. I came to this promotion to fight to show that I’m one of the best, that I’m able to fight some of the best. And in order to prove that, that’s what I have to do. I’m ready for any callout for any of the fighters that want to get in there with me. That’s what I’m here for. ‘King Kong’ is back, guys.”
To hear more from Romanov, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.
