LAS VEGAS – Chidi Njokuani is excited about his future now fighting at 170 pounds.
Since making his return to the welterweight division a year ago, the 36-year-old has picked up three consecutive wins. Saturday in the UFC Fight Night 254 co-main event, Njokuani (25-10 MMA, 5-3 UFC) viciously stopped Brazil’s Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (25-9-1 MMA, 11-5-1 UFC) in the second round. He missed weight for the bout, coming in 1.25 pounds over the allowed limit.
But the win, along with the streak, have Njokuani thinking he can do great things in the remainder of his fighting career.
“It feels great,” Njokuani told reporters at the UFC Fight Night 254 post-fight press conference. “It actually feels like there’s a real future in this weight class.
“At 185, I felt good, but there were times when people felt so big, and it’s like, ‘Damn, how long is this going to last?’ At 170, I feel like I’m where I belong. I’m just as strong or stronger than these guys, and I’m just as fast or faster than these guys. It’s all coming together now. This run is making a difference with my confidence and how I do things.”
Njokuani thinks it’s time he gets a step-up in the division. He has no once in mind specifically, but he’d like for his next fight to be against a ranked opponent.
“(I want the) top 15,” Njokuani said. “I don’t really know any names, so anybody ranked in the top 15, I’m down to fight them.
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