LAS VEGAS – Dione Barbosa met the media Saturday after his win over Melissa Gatto at UFC Fight Night 272.
Barbosa (9-4 MMA, 3-1 UFC) took a majority decision from Gatto (9-3-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC) on the prelims at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. One judge had the fight a draw thanks to a point deduction for Barbosa due to an illegal kick.
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That kick proved to be controversial because it appeared Gatto briefly was unconscious from it, yet she was allowed to continue and lost the decision. Had she not been allowed to continue, the possibility exists she would have won by disqualification.
After she survived for the win, Barbosa said she would not have tried to break the rules.
“I didn’t feel contact with her face at all,” Barbosa told MMA Junkie at her post-fight news conference. “That’s what I felt in there. That’s why I tried to hold her head so I don’t kick her head. It was not intentional at all. In the moment, the referee stopped (the fight) and I just needed to wait. I’m just there to try to do my job. I don’t try to be unfair, dirty. I’m a martial artist. I don’t think about doing dirty things to win the fight.
“I don’t think she was completely out. She fell, for sure – it was a big impact. It felt like I landed a lot on her chest. It’s a hard impact. … For sure, she felt something, and they gave her time to recover, and she recovered.”
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But don’t go thinking the Brazilian is interested in changing her style just because she lost a point and had some tense moments wondering what might happen while Gatto needed the five minutes before she could go again.
Barbosa said she’ll throw that same soccer kick every time – but will perhaps just work on its accuracy next time.
“It is a risk, but every single time I step in the octagon is a risk,” Barbosa said. “In three seconds, something can change. One punch can land and change completely the fight. My life, my style, is (be risky). I’m a grappler, and today I’m like, ‘I’ll throw punches here. I want to finish this fight. I want $100K.’ I take risks all the time. It’s part of my life. This is what I love to do. I’ll take a risk again. For sure, I’ll recalculate and try to do better.”
Check out Barbosa’s post-fight interview in the video above.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dione Barbosa explains illegal kick in UFC win over Melissa Gatto
