Michinori Tanaka Feared Release Had He Lost at UFC 195

UFC bantamweight fighter Michinori Tanaka spoke with reporters in a post-fight media scrum (via MMAjunkie) following his win at UFC 195. Tanaka walked away with a close split decision victory over former Bellator featherweight champion Joe Soto. Below is an excerpt from the scrum, where Tanaka said he feared getting a release had he lost and gone 0-3 in the UFC.

“I figured I would get cut if I lost. I didn’t know who it was going to go to. And I asked my cornermen, and they didn’t know about it. I was worried, and I was praying for my name to be called.”

Unfortunately for Soto, he has now gone 0-3 since joining the UFC roster, and he potentially faces a release. Though he did make his UFC debut as a late-notice replacement in a bantamweight title fight against TJ Dillashaw.