Ahead of one of the year’s most highly anticipated cards, UFC 211, MMA Plus spoke to featherweight contender Jason Knight ahead of his bout with Chas Skelly. “The Kid” comes fresh off the back of an impressive victory over Alex Caceres at UFC on FOX 23 in January.
The Mississippi native has amassed an impressive 16 wins with just two defeats and will be looking to make it 17 against the Texan and insists he is ready.
“I’m ready to go. I’m always ready. Every time I fight, I go straight to the UFC and try to persuade them to get me back in there as soon as possible,” said Knight. “I’m excited. I know I’ve got a tough fight on my hands but I’m ready for it.”
His upcoming opponent, Skelly, boasts an equally mighty record of 17 wins and only two defeats. Interestingly, both fighters who share near-identical records, boasting 10 submission wins a piece. However, despite his strength on the ground, Knight expresses his eagerness to stand and trade with his dancing partner in Texas.
“I more or less know what he’s going to try to do to me and I will be ready for whatever he throws at me. I imagine he is going to try to take me down, I can almost bet that.
“I’m going to try keep the fight standing, I know my stand-up is better than his and if I can keep him on the feet, I believe I will be dominant in the stand-up. I’ve focused on my wrestling and I’m confident I can prevent him taking me down.”
After UFC 211 Jason Knight has his eyes set on ‘The Korean Superboy’
The fight between the two contenders sees a massive opportunity for both fighters to move onto bigger and better things and “The Kid” believes a win at UFC 211 will see him either; take a top-15 ranking spot or land him a fight with a top-15 opponent. The 24-year-old man has his eyes on one man in the featherweight division.
“I really want to fight ‘The Korean Superboy’. The UFC knows that. I would it love it but I don’t know if they [UFC] will give it to me.”
Doo Ho Choi has amassed a record of 14-2 and enjoyed a win streak of 12 before losing to one of the best 145lb fighters on the planet in Cub Swanson.
Despite his desire for the fight, he may need to wait a little while longer, with Doo Ho Choi now booked to face Andre Fili at UFC 204.
Knight was also quick to express his delight in belonging to the featherweight division and described it as ‘the best division to be in’. “It’s the great division to be in right now,” proclaimed the American.
“Every fight for me will be a tough fight and it’s one of the most watched divisions. 145lb and 155lb are where it’s at, they’re the most exciting divisions in the UFC and they’re the ones that everyone wants to watch the most.”
Knight insisted that he is still progressing as a fighter and that the best is still to come. “I’m still progressing for sure. I get better every day, every fight, every training camp, I’m developing every day.”
“The Kid” also spoke about his position on the card and explained how much a performance this weekend could do for his exposure and fanbase.
“I think it’s going to do me a lot of good. Everybody around the world that is actually a fight fan is going to be watching this fight and despite being on the prelims, I’m second last and right before Eddie Alvarez and Dustin Poirier and that’s going to give me a whole lot more of a chance to be seen.
“I know that win, lose or draw I’m going to put on a spectacular performance, I’m going to put my heart and soul on the line. Fans are going to see that and realise ‘This guy is for real’.”
