LAS VEGAS – Securing victory in a UFC debut is a fighter’s dream, however the undefeated Torrez Finney has to face a nightmare response to his efficiency.
After three wins on Dana White’s Contender Sequence, Finney (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) lastly received his probability to compete beneath the UFC banner. His debut break up resolution win towards Robert Valentin is one which he needs to shortly transfer previous.
“I’d somewhat have an unsightly ‘W’ than a very good ‘L,’” Finney instructed reporters at a post-fight information convention. “… One, we had been actually assured in my space, clearly, getting it to the bottom. I felt like I used to be the higher grappler, no query. He did some issues higher in conditions than I anticipated, but in addition, there was a whole lot of missed alternatives for me on the bottom, and I didn’t make the most of it. There’s a whole lot of issues I received to develop on. I believe I gave him an excessive amount of confidence in areas, and I didn’t execute.”
From a grappling standpoint, Finney had was in a position to put Valentin (10-5 MMA, 0-2 UFC) wherever he needed early on within the combat with a few slams and simple takedowns. Nonetheless, as soon as the combat hit the canvas, there was nothing else Finney provided besides merely holding his opponent down.
Over quarter-hour, Finney landed solely 4 important strikes, a file for the bottom output in a three-round resolution. The harm was so low, the dissenting decide, Tony Weeks, scored all three rounds for Valentin, regardless of being held down a majority of the combat.
“In a method, I assumed I simply F’d this up, I actually did,” Finney stated.
Finney isn’t positive what prevented him from unleashing extra offense in dominant positions. He says he aim is to at all times get a end, however whether or not it was jitters from his UFC debut or another issue, Finney says he’ll get again to work to enhance for his subsequent outing.
“It was a bizarre efficiency,” Finney stated. “That was a dud, in my trustworthy opinion. You already know, it occurs. I ain’t gonna lie, I really feel nice. That is one of the best I’ve felt going right into a combat, simply was a dud. I felt method worse than this going right into a combat, and I’ve had an unbelievable efficiency. … Tonight was a kind of sort of nights.
“Like I stated, got here out with the victory, that’s the primary factor, however simply received to develop. I’ve solely been combating since October 2020. Heck, my coach was simply telling me: lower than 5 years, you’re already within the UFC, and a UFC win. Take that, you’ve received to run with it, however we received to develop from it.”
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