Steve Garcia needs the prospect to climb the featherweight rankings however he’s additionally aware about the precise fights to get him the place he needs to go.
In Saturday’s UFC Vegas 110 most important occasion, Garcia scored a dominant first-round end over David Onama to increase his profitable streak to seven in a row with six of these coming by knockout. It’s a formidable feat and the win virtually assures Garcia of a better ranked opponent for his subsequent battle.
Whereas he initially requested for a “BMF” title battle in opposition to Max Holloway after his win, Garcia acknowledged that there are positively some matchups he’d nonetheless prefer to have at featherweight.
“I believe one battle that makes a variety of sense might be Josh Emmett,” Garcia mentioned on the night’s post-fight press convention. “He has a reputation on him. He positively has a better rating than I do and I believe he’s obtainable so why not? Let’s attempt to set one thing up the start of subsequent 12 months. I believe that might be a enjoyable battle.”
It’s an fascinating callout contemplating Emmett is coming off a loss to Youssef Zalal, who occurred to be cornering Onama on Saturday evening.
Zalal is greater within the featherweight rankings, however Garcia thinks there’s extra to a really perfect opponent than simply the quantity subsequent to their title.
“I’ll battle Zalal, that’s not the problem,” Garcia mentioned. “The entire thing is title recognition. I do know Zalal simply beat Emmett. Did a incredible job of that however I nonetheless really feel that Emmett might have slightly bit extra title worth than possibly Zalal. Me and Zalal will in all probability cross paths. There’s little question about it. I simply fought his teammate. He’s in all probability already recreation planning to battle me sooner or later. If it occurs, it occurs. I’m not frightened of anyone. I’ll go on the market and battle whoever. I’ll battle three folks in an evening. I don’t care. If that’s what they need me to do, that’s what I’ll do.
“The one motive why I say Emmett is as a result of he’s received title recognition, he’s clearly additional down the rankings than me so in my head, I need my alternatives. I simply fought somebody behind me. I felt like I simply gave somebody a second. What does that do for me? I’ll in all probability get again to [ranked No. 11]. I’m unsure. I actually don’t understand how the rankings are going to play out. However on the finish of the day, that is how I assist my household. It’s how I make my cash. Onama was simply on the listing.”
Whereas Emmett is coming off back-to-back losses, his greatest wins have often come through highlight-reel knockouts together with his battle in opposition to Bryce Mitchell, which offered one of many scariest finishes in latest UFC historical past.
It’s that means to make for an thrilling battle that appeals most to Garcia, particularly as he’s nonetheless making an attempt to construct his personal title recognition amongst followers.
“I believe to the followers it’s extra thrilling to battle an Emmet,” Garcia mentioned. “Let’s have headliners once more. Let’s go Emmett vs. Garcia as a substitute of [Garcia] vs. Zalal. I believe I’d be capable to promote slightly bit extra with Emmett than I do in opposition to Zalal.
“To not take something away from him. I respect that man however on the finish of the day that is about making an attempt to raise my profession.”
