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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson and Ken Hathaway

Rafa Garcia needed 15 stitches to close that nasty cut at UFC Fight Night 216

LAS VEGAS – Rafa Garcia beat Hayisaer Maheshate with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 216 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Garcia, who was a bloody mess after the fight thanks to a big cut.

Rafa Garcia vs. Hayisaer Maheshate

Result: Rafa Garcia def. Hayisaer Maheshate via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Garcia (15-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC), Maheshate (9-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Key stat: Garcia landed six takedowns and outstruck Maheshate 79-30.

Garcia on the fight's key moment

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Maheshate of China punches Rafa Garcia in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 17, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“I went in there and hit the body a lot. … I feel like that broke him a little bit and I got my takedowns.”

Garcia on his big cut and amount of stitches

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Rafa Garcia punches Maheshate of China in a lightweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on December 17, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“I got … 15 (stitches). With the ref and the judges, you never know. Sometimes they see too much blood and they’ll give (your opponent) a round, or stop the fight. You just never know. That made me keep pushing and just try to make a statement.”

Garcia on what he wants next

“(I want to get to) the top 15 – be in the top 15, be active, get at least three, pushing four fights.”

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

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 263.

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