Jussier Formiga Doesn’t Expect A Title Shot

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Jussier Formiga (19-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) said he hasn’t thought a lot about getting a title shot, even after his win over Dustin Ortiz (15-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 95. Here are highlights:

On a possible title shot: “This win puts me back to the front line. I’m one of the guys, also, to maybe get a shot at Demetrious (Johnson, current flyweight champion). But I’ve come close so many times that I don’t even want to question that too much. I prefer to leave it in the hands of the UFC. If this fight is meant to happen, it will happen naturally.”

On his thoughts during the fight: “I thought it was funny, at points I paid more attention to his beard than his neck. Maybe that got a little bit in the way. He defended very well. The fight started off a bit tense. The first round was very close. When it ended, Dede (Pederneiras, Nova Uniao’s head coach) told me it was a very tough round. So I knew I had to come back in the second to impose my rhythm and pressure him at all times. Thankfully it worked. I was able to dominate him on the ground the entire time. In the third, I went in with a plan to strike, but we ended up scrambling, and I was able to get to his back again, and it went the distance.”

On the future of the division: “It’s hard to speculate (what’s next). Demetrious fights in December, and in December (Joseph) Benavidez fights (Henry) Cejudo, as well. Benavidez has fought Demetrious twice, and, if Cejudo wins, he’s fought (Johnson) as well. So I don’t really know how it’s going to go. I don’t pick opponents. Now I want to go home, rest and, in 2017, whomever the UFC wants me to fight, I’ll go in there and do my job.”