INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Bernardo Sopaj beat Ricky Turcios with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 311 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.
Take a look inside the fight with Sopaj, who was supposed to fight Turcios this past November until a Turcios medical issue after his weight cut.
Bernardo Sopaj def. Ricky Turcios
Result: Bernardo Sopaj def. Ricky Turcios via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Updated records: Sopaj (12-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Turcios (13-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Key stats: Sopaj stuffed eight of Turcios’ nine takedown attempts.
Sopaj on the fight’s key moment
Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Benardo Sopaj (blue gloves) reacts after defeating Ricky Turcios (red gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“I really like the fight. It was a war. I don’t think it was back and forth. He really tried to catch me, but I saw everything. It was very hard for him to catch me. He’s a tough fighter, but he did no damage. I knew he can take punches. So my plan is just to piece him up, pick him apart. I knew that whatever I give him, he’s hard to take out. So the plan was just give him two-three punches, some kicks, and then move. … He did no damage. I think that I did more damage than him. He just wanted to hug me.”
Sopaj on champ potential
“(It would be everything to be the first UFC champion from Albania). This is my goal. That’s why I came. I’m not here to play or just be part of the UFC. I’m here to become the champion and I will work my ass off to just become a champion.”
Sopaj on what he wants next
Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Ricky Turcios (red gloves) fights Benardo Sopaj (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
“I want to have as many fights as possible this year. I want three more this year. I want to be active because I want to take the belt very fast.”
To hear more from Sopaj, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
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