Brando Pericic met the media Saturday after his win over Shamil Gaziev at UFC Fight Night 275.
Pericic (7-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Gaziev (14-3 MMA, 3-3 UFC) gave the fans a show on the main card at RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia. The heavyweights turned in a Fight of the Night performance, but it was Pericic who left with a knockout nearly four minutes into the second round.
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Pericic has all his wins by stoppage, including his first three in the UFC in less than eight months.
“I’m pissed off that I left the first round – I should’ve gotten him out of there,” Pericic told the UFC after the win. “But we went through some adversity this camp, and I’m glad I got the finish.
“I’m not here to go to the judges’ scorecards. I’m not here to touch and move. I’m here to f*cking throw down and get the win. I’m glad I went to the second round (to show) I’m ready for five rounds.”
Pericic said because of what he’s been through in life before his MMA career, it helps him appreciate the opportunities he has in the UFC. The 31-year-old City Kickboxing product went so far as to say MMA saved his life.
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“When I go out there, I want to represent the struggles I’ve been through and give that to the crowd – give them that big KO win,” Pericic said. “The sh*t I’ve been through in life, that’s the actual fight. This is easy. There was no nerves in there for me. I wouldn’t care if that’s the champion – I’d have done the same thing.”
Pericic, whose Southeastern Europe heritage from the Balkan region led to his “Balkan Bear” nickname, said he’s keen to fight when the UFC makes its debut in Serbia later this year. UFC Belgrade is set for Aug. 1.
Check out Pericic’s post-fight interview in the video below.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Is Brando Pericic UFC’s next heavyweight star? ‘I’m here to throw down’
