UFC Rio Rancho Review

Alastair Bishop Posted On February 17, 2020

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In the evening’s main event, Jan Blachowicz defeated Corey Anderson via first round TKO to avenge the defeat he suffered at the hands of “Overtime” in 2015, and reaffirm his position as a legitimate title contender in the light heavyweight division.
- Calling for a title shot, Blachowicz said: “They were wrong about me, I proved that I am the best in the world and I proved that I am the next contender for the title shot. We trained that shot all the time in training. We knew that he would try to use his boxing to take me down. He used his boxing to take down Johnny Walker, but that’s good for me because I like stand up fighting. You promised me on the show Jon, I am next. Let’s do this, tell me where and when. Give me the place and time.”

Montana De La Rosa defeated Mara Romero Borella via unanimous decision, taking her professional career record to 11-5. On a momentous evening, De La Rosa made history as one part of the first husband-wife duo to feature on the same UFC card, with husband Mark suffering defeat against Raulian Paiva in the prelims.
- Reflecting on the historic experience, De La Rosa said:“It feels amazing to start the year with a win like that. I felt like a whole new person in there for this fight, I was calm and everything went right. It was better than normal for me preparing for this fight with Mark. We were both on the same page and it was great having someone with you the whole fight week with the same goal in mind. He didn’t have the result he wanted, but I was 100 percent prepared for that. You kind of have to be when you are fighting on the same card as your husband, you have to be prepared for anything. I had to be focused on me and be selfish and it helped me come out with a win. It’d be great to break into the top 10 with this win. I just want to keep winning, get a couple more fights in this year and keep the ball rolling.”

Fighting in front of a home crowd, UFC veteran John Dodson recorded a TKO victory over English bantamweight Nathaniel Wood. “The Magician”, a New Mexico native, improves to a 21-11 professional record as he looks to establish himself in the bantamweight division.
- Discussing his performance and fight plans for 2020, Dodson said: “Feels amazing to get back into the win column, it wasn’t easy. Nathaniel Wood is a tough opponent and I want to make sure I continue trashing these young opponents that they are giving me. I keep giving them the wins and then they are getting the title contention spots and now I want the same thing for myself. This win builds me back up. They keep giving me these tough opponents, when I lost to Marlon Moraes, they started boosting him up. When I lost to Petr Yan, they started boosting him up. I knew they wanted to do the same thing with Wood. This gives me the confidence to say I’m still in this and they want to give me a title which is why they keep throwing these young guns at me. I’m going to keep punishing them every single time. Competing here at home gave me the extra boost I needed. I had my family and friends out here and I kept seeing them out in the crowd, I couldn’t let them down. For 2020, it looks like I’m going to keep getting some tough opponents and I’m going to keep knocking them out.”

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