UFC 207: Amanda Nunes vs. Ronda Rousey

Winners and Losers React to UFC 207

Winners and Losers React to UFC 207

Winners and losers from UFC 207 share their thoughts in the aftermath of the event in Las Vegas.

Dec 31, 2016 by Jim Edwards
Winners and Losers React to UFC 207
The last UFC fight card of the year delivered no end of high drama.

There were winners and there were losers. Men and women that had their hands raised and men and women heartbroken having tasted the bitterness of defeat.

Here's what the winners and some of the losers had to straight in the aftermath of UFC 207.

Nunes defeats Rousey via TKO, Round 1, 0:48


Amanda Nunes:


“The whole time, I knew it was going to be like this. And I knew if I had the chance in the beginning, like if she would give me the opportunity, I could finish her. I know the girls can’t take my punches. I knew she was going to strike with me because her boxing coach told her she has good striking.”

Garbrandt defeats Cruz via unanimous decision


Cody Garbrandt:

"It sounds amazing. I've been waiting to hear that since I was 12 years old. I thrive in that environment. I grew up fighting, it's all I know.

"Hats off to Dominick Cruz and his team at Alliance. He's one of the best in the world and now I'm the best in the world. TJ Dillashaw, come try me."

Dominick Cruz

“I’ve been fighting the best guys in the world for the best ten years. I’ve been on the pound for pound list for a long time. Even when I was hurt with triple ACL reconstructive surgeries, there was a target on my back and I had to come back and fight through it. This was no different.

"This was just another fight that I had to challenge myself. I knew that he was going to be good. I said that leading into it. And that’s what it is when you’re a champion. Somebody else has the target on their back now. I get to chase the target for once. That’s how it goes, and it’s okay.”
 

Dillashaw defeats Lineker via unanimous decision


TJ Dillashaw:

"I had nothing to prove, I just had to fight a tough guy. John Lineker is a beast. I had to be smart. I'm not going to get into a slugfest with the guy, it's his only weapon. I wanted to show how well-rounded I am; show some of my wrestling, show some awesome Jiu-Jitsu.

"There's no other fight for me (than the winner of Cruz vs. Garbrandt), I thought there was no other fight for me after my last fight."

John Lineker:

"He was the better guy tonight. I'll go home and come back stronger."
 

Kim defeats Saffiedine via unanimous decision


Dong Hyun Kim:

"I watched the previous fights and I thought that I could win Fight of the Night, but Saffiedine has a great clinch game so it was hard to perform an exciting fight. I want Demian Maia!"

Tarec Saffiedine:

"I felt like I touched him more. Outside of holding me against the cage, he didn't do much."
 

Borg defeats Smolka via unanimous decision


Ray Borg:

"We were in a scramble and as I took him back, going backwards, he landed on my ankle. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't plant on it, I couldn't twist, which forced me to take it to the ground every chance I got. I expected it to be a grappling match.

"I expected him to scramble more and be a little bit stronger. It was a good fight by Louis. I want something right away. I need to make sure my ankle is okay first, hopefully it is, and then maybe Brandon Moreno."
 

Magny defeats Hendricks via unanimous decision


Neil Magny:

"I feel like it went my way. At the end of the day it is a mixed martial arts match, not a wrestling match. I definitely lost the wrestling match in that fight, but I won the striking and jiu jitsu aspects of it and that's what got me the win today.

"I had myself winning rounds one and three, for sure. I know in round two I was put in a lot of bad positions and I wasn't able to get my offense going, but I feel like I was the more offensive guy in both rounds one and three.

"For the first half of the third round I was moving a lot more, I was pressuring him, I was landing more strikes. He had the one big takedown in that round and I stuffed two of his takedowns in that round. I had a submission attempt that was pretty deep and I just finished strong trying to elbow him for the finish. I want to be on the Brooklyn card, I want to keep on winning, keep busy and keep chasing that gold." 
 

Carlos Junior defeats Vettori via unanimous decision


Antonio Carlos Junior:

"I knew he was good at grappling. He's got really good guillotines and foot locks. Jiu Jitsu is my expertise. I spent my entire life training Jiu Jitsu, so if you're really comfortable on the ground, that's it. I gave my best and got this win.

"I was prepared for his guillotine, so I was able to defend it well. There was tension on my neck, but that's it. I think I did a good job. I don't have a specific opponent in mind, but I'd like to fight three times in 2017."

Marvin Vettori:

"Life is a learning process. I'm going to take this loss, go back to the gym and work even harder. I really want the UFC to have faith in me. I'll be back, I'll be even better and I'll be champion one day."
 

Garcia defeats Pyle via knockout at 3:34 of the 1st round


Alex Garcia:

"I feel great. I can fight again next week. I'm good, I'm happy. I saw his game and he's very good in Jiu-Jitsu, I saw I was able to knock him out on the feet.
"I've seen him fight before and he's been knocked out before, so I saw that I had the chance to do it too. I want a top-10 or 15 opponent in Brooklyn."
 

Price defeats Thatch via arm triangle at 4:30 of the 1st round


Niko Price:

"He's been submitted the last three fights in a row, so I just take what I see. Honestly, I'm a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu. I started nine years ago on the ground, I just recently -- in the last four years -- started standup and I know I have power. If you can't get the knockout, you have to be prepared for anything and I'm well-rounded.
"I'm still going through it, this whole entire thing is so surreal to me. I got the call two and a half weeks ago on short notice so I didn't even get a full training camp. My cardio wasn't good, normally it's a lot more exciting when I'm in there, so this time I had to play a bit more cautious.

"I'm ready for anyone. I don't care. Short notice, same day. Fly me in on weigh-in day, I'll make weight on the way there. I'm ready to fight and I want that bonus. Tell Dana White everybody, I want that bonus."
 

Oliveira vs. Means is ruled a no contest due to an accidental knee at 3:33 of the first round


Tim Means:

"I thought I had him in a two-point stance, I threw a knee because he was trying to block my legs. Stop being a baby and come here to fight. Stop playing that hand touching stuff. I want to see my kids and some leftovers from Christmas. I'm going home to see my wife and eat some leftovers."