Modestas Bukauskas (14-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC) put a stamp on his return to the UFC when he defeated Tyson Pedro (9-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) by way of unanimous resolution in enemy territory at UFC 284 in Perth, Western Australia.
The deck was stacked in opposition to Bukauskas as he ready for his second stint with the UFC: He took the battle on brief discover in opposition to an Australian in Perth as a reasonable underdog. Bukauskas really opened as a +700 underdog to Pedro’s -1000 earlier than the traces moved significantly all the way down to Pedro being a -200 or so favourite. Being in powerful spots is the “story” of his profession, he stated.
“Actually, I don’t suppose there’s been many fights the place I’ve been the favourite, apart from a pair,” Bukauskas informed MMASucka. “It’s type of just like the theme of most of my profession. After I fought Marthin Hamlet, I used to be going to lose and he was going to go to the UFC, and it ended up being the opposite method round. Particularly right here the place I began off as a ten to 1 underdog. I used to be like, ‘What the hell, these folks suppose I’m a f—ing scrub!’ You realize what I imply? What’s occurring over right here?”
Bukauskas took the battle on two weeks’ discover, and successful felt “completely superb,” he stated.
“It most likely held much more weight due to the truth that the whole lot was stacked so excessive in opposition to me. You want the traction, you want the eye, you want folks to have an interest. Like I stated, it was such a tipping the scales out of my favor, to come back out with a win, it makes folks drawn extra to the story. That’s superb additionally in itself.”
Bukauskas’s highway again to the UFC was a troublesome one. He was 1-3 within the Octagon after a TKO loss to Khalil Rountree that noticed him endure substantial knee injury after Rountree landed a facet kick to the knee. Bukauskas was launched by the UFC and located himself as a free agent.
“The Baltic Gladiator,” a Lithuanian ex-pat residing in England, signed with Cage Warriors – the promotion the place he turned a champion after beating Hamlet and getting signed to the UFC after a title protection in opposition to Riccardo Nosiglia. Bukauskas gained his first battle again with the promotion in opposition to Lee Chadwick after which defeated Chuck Campbell to develop into a two-time Cage Warriors gentle heavyweight champion.
When Pedro’s unique UFC 284 opponent, Mingyang Zhang, withdrew, Bukauskas received the decision.
“Contemplating the highway that we now have been by way of, and clearly to do it in such a fast turnaround of occasions, 16 months from having one of many worst accidents in MMA and being lower from the UFC to being re-signed to the UFC, successful a Cage Warriors belt once more, I nearly felt like I had deja vu,” Bukauskas stated. “This time, we’re way more clued up. We’re going to do issues proper. It undoubtedly feels much more superb this time round, particularly going into enemy territory.”
Bukauskas stated he has gotten messages of help after his win, which he stated was “completely superb.” Lots of people informed him his story is inspirational. Bukauskas stated considered one of his objectives is to encourage individuals who discover themselves in powerful spots – like he was after the Rountree loss.
“One man was telling me how he had a foul operation, and that is giving him power and motivation to wish to push by way of and get better. Which means so much to me,” he stated. “You wish to depart your mark on the world, proper? That is my method of leaving my mark on the world: by displaying those that it doesn’t matter what the adversity, you possibly can come by way of it. That being stated, it’s fairly an incredible second, however I do know there’s a hell of much more work to be carried out. I’m completely happy. I’m elated, however I’m additionally able to get again to work.”
Bukauskas defeated Pedro with judges’ scorecards of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.
The Lithuanian Englishman stated his mindset is considered one of his most improved components from his first UFC run.
“I used to be very current within the second after I fought [Pedro],” he stated. “That is one thing I didn’t expertise the primary time round, I don’t really feel. I felt like I used to be there, really current within the second, which was an enormous factor. It allowed me to carry out and let unfastened.”
Bukauskas stated he’s additionally switching his stances extra successfully, making higher selections within the cage and displaying a extra constructive mindset.
“Even IQ, placing my combos collectively, higher vary discovering,” he stated. “You noticed hints of my protection on the ground as properly. I used to be capable of get again up my toes. Even when [Pedro] didn’t roll for that toe maintain, I nonetheless would’ve managed to get again as much as my toes. These are issues that I’ve been working tirelessly on. Even then, I didn’t actually exhibit the grappling facet an excessive amount of, since I used to be successful with the stand-up … There are lots of issues I added to my recreation, and it’s undoubtedly going to point out even moreso in future fights. I’m very excited to do this. I’m glad folks seen my enhancements, and I’m eager to point out extra.”
Bukauskas, regardless of preventing in Pedro’s dwelling nation, felt assured he would get the judges’ resolution as a result of he outlanded him in whole strikes.
“When Bruce Buffer stated ‘by unanimous resolution,’ I used to be very assured I used to be going to get the choice,” he stated. “I used to be simply ready for my identify to be known as. Like, ‘they need to undoubtedly give it to me.’ If it was a break up resolution, I might’ve been like, ‘Ff…However it is a bit iffy. I hope they sway it my method.’ The actual fact it was unanimous, to me, it calmed me down a bit of bit, as a result of I typically knew at that time, if I misplaced the primary spherical, I nonetheless would’ve gained rounds 2 and three.”
Bukauskas has fought 3 times prior to now three months. He’s seeking to make it 4 bouts in 4 months.
“Momentum is the whole lot on this recreation. In the event you’ve received good momentum, you retain the ball rolling.”
If I can get on that London card, that will be completely superb. I might love to do this. I depart it within the fingers of the MMA gods whether or not that can occur or not. Both method, bro, no matter occurs, I might be prepared for regardless of the subsequent enterprise might be. After all, I wish to keep energetic. Momentum is superb proper now, and I might like to maintain it going.”
Bukauskas would like to maintain it going at UFC 286, notably. The cardboard, that includes the deciding trilogy between UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards and Kamaru Usman, is scheduled for March 18 from the O2 Enviornment in London, England.
And he was fast to call his most well-liked foe: the No. 10-ranked UFC gentle heavyweight.
“Paul Craig. I’ve talked about it earlier than. He’s ranked so much greater, however he’s the U.Ok. No. 1., and I’m the U.Ok. No. 2 at gentle heavyweight. That might be an incredible match-up to find out who’s one of the best U.Ok. gentle heavyweight. It’ll be attention-grabbing for the followers and an all British affair. Technically, I’m Lithuanian, however I’ve been introduced up in London most of my life. I believe it’d be entertaining and attention-grabbing for the followers, stylistically. That’s type of what I want to do. Whether or not it occurs, who is aware of? However I believe it’d be a fantastic match-up.”
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