Sean Woodson (12-1-1 MMA, 6-1-1 UFC) emerged victorious in his yard of St. Louis on Could 11, defeating Alex Caceres (21-15, 1 NC MMA, 16-13, 1 NC UFC) by way of unanimous determination.
Woodson was coming off a break up determination over Charles Jourdain in Canada when it got here time for his flip in entrance of his hometown followers.
“It was so cool,” Woodson advised MMASucka about preventing in St. Louis. “My battle earlier than, I used to be on the assault in enemy territory. This battle, I used to be defending dwelling soil. I used to be tremendous pleased about that. I used to be tremendous nervous main as much as it. Strolling out, it was essentially the most nervous I’ve ever felt heading to the cage. I’m pleased with myself for staying composed, not freaking all the best way the f— out. Nonetheless managing to get the job performed beneath all that stress.”
The gang, roaring chants of “S-T-L!,” gave Woodson a lift from the get-go, he stated.
“As quickly as I walked out, I began feeling the love and vitality,” he stated. “It was positively serving to me navigate by the nerves and getting my thoughts proper, for certain.”
Woodson graded his efficiency towards Caceres a C+.
“As a result of the man’s far, much more skilled than me and has been in there with the elite, elite, elite of the division,” Woodson stated. “I understand how nervous I used to be and the way that was affecting me, being in my hometown. I had a foul weight lower this go round. The final two have been fairly dangerous and more durable than others. Alex is understood for being a brilliant sturdy man. Once I watch the battle again, I see moments the place I really feel I might’ve completed him [by strikes] and make an announcement. I’m pleased with the win, little question, and it being that bucket list-type expertise. I don’t really feel like I made that assertion I actually needed to that battle.”
Caceres has solely been completed by way of strikes as soon as within the UFC – by Francisco Rivera Jr. “Bruce Leeroy” has fought a who’s who at each bantamweight and featherweight: Yair Rodriguez, Giga Chikadze, Urijah Faber, and Sergio Pettis to call a number of.
“It was good to realize that have being with a man as skilled as him,” Woodson stated. “Our battle was his thirtieth battle within the Octagon. The actual fact I used to be in a position to, in my view, dominate a man like that – I really feel like I received all three rounds. He’s had a type of careers the place individuals say ‘There’s nothing he hasn’t seen earlier than.’ Once we had been in there, I really feel like he was perplexed, confused and couldn’t get a gauge on me. I used to be displaying him issues he’d by no means seen earlier than.”
Woodson stated the lesson he pulled from the Caceres battle is he ought to apply extra stress and capitalize on cases the place he feels he might end his opponent.
“I’ve been cooking these dudes up,” he stated. “I simply don’t stick the fork in them, so to say. Early on in my UFC profession, I’ve been targeted on successful by any means. However now I’ve been round for a minute, and simply successful isn’t sufficient anymore. When watching myself again, I see moments the place I might capitalize extra and apply extra stress. Struggle to complete extra. I’m preventing to complete after I’m in there. Simply emphasize it extra. I actually wish to make an announcement and get myself to the higher echelon of the division, the place I really feel like I belong.”
Woodson took to the mic within the Octagon instantly after his win and known as for a match-up with Bryce Mitchell. Mitchell accepted the battle inside moments of Woodson’s callout, however posted on X that the battle might not occur in spite of everything.
“Tried to get the Woodie fite,” Mitchell wrote. “I accepted the callout. However seems to be prefer it aint gunna occur We’ll c what they take note of!”
Tried to get the Woodie fite. I accepted the callout. However seems to be prefer it aint gunna occur
We’ll c what they take note of! pic.twitter.com/XcXH8mg2SO
— Bryce Mitchell (@ThugnastyMMA) Could 15, 2024
Woodson gave Mitchell credit score for responding instantly after his name out.
“He posted that he was in for it. I needed it. I assumed it was all however a performed deal. Then the subsequent day after, he spoke with administration and the UFC didn’t need it, I assume. I do know something can occur. There’s an opportunity it could actually nonetheless occur. Proper now, it doesn’t look that manner. He needs it, I need it, however apparently, the UFC doesn’t need it, in keeping with Bryce.”
Woodson stated he needs to battle any top-15 featherweight who’s free. He stated he would really like both No. 14 Diego Lopes or No. 15 Edson Barboza if he will be able to battle once more by November. No. 13 Dan Ige is ready to battle the unranked Joanderson Brito on July 20, whereas Mitchell occupies the No. 12 slot.
“Positively any individual within the prime 15,” Woodson stated. “I really feel like I’ve earned that. I’ve been placing collectively a strong resume. Dennis [Buzukja] is a strong fighter. Jourdain is a top-15 high quality man. Caceres was top-15. I positively need anyone within the top-15 subsequent. It doesn’t matter who.”
Woodson stated Caceres was ranked for many of his camp earlier than Lopes took his spot after his massive win over Sodiq Yusuff at UFC 300.
“Throughout my complete battle camp, he was top-15. Simply because UFC 300 occurred, impulsively he’s not top-15? He’s nonetheless a top-15 high quality opponent for certain,” Woodson stated of Caceres.
Woodson is trying to return by late September or November on the newest.
“I’d actually prefer to squeeze one other one in earlier than the vacations, for certain,” he stated.
Featured Picture credit score:Embed from Getty Photographs
