Ben Saunders Said The Pressure Was On For Him to Win at UFC Fight Night 131

– Ben Saunders spoke with MMAjunkie following his win over Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 131. Highlights are below:

On the pressure of needing the win after a two-fight losing streak: “Going into this fight, everybody was talking about the pressure on my shoulders, and I just kind of put my mentality back to where I was when I was on (“The Ultimate Fighter 6”). (I) was just ear-to-ear smiling. If you saw my walk out there, dude, I was chilling. I was having a good time. I was smiling. I was ready for war, but I’m just blessed to do what I love to do for a living. I can’t believe I’m here right now, let alone to do it for as long as I’ve been doing it. And to still have the skills – and for you guys to be able to see that I am improving.”

On his reaction to the win: “I think I told you guys before, but on any given night, I can beat anyone in my division in the world. And I’ve go a lot of attributes to bring to the game. I’m a pick-your-poison fighter. I really have – no matter what range the fight can go, I have enough weapons and enough techniques with those weapons and attributes to bring out a win and a first-round finish.”

On his plans going forward: “In my head, we even said it before in the hotel room – I’m not here to just maintain a job: I’m here to get a title shot. To get another first-round finish and to go out there – dude, every time I go out there, you’re going to get a fight. Win, lose or draw. But I’m there to finish you, every time.”