If you watched UFC Vegas 106 on Saturday night, you witnessed an impressive performance by rising featherweight star Yadier Del Valle. Del Valle, who proudly maintains an undefeated record of 9-0, secured his first UFC victory by submitting Connor Matthews in the first round using a rear-naked choke. This win marks a significant milestone in Del Valle's career, akin to a graduation for him.
In his post-fight interview, Del Valle expressed genuine excitement about achieving a lifelong dream. “I’m very happy. I’m realizing my childhood dreams of having the best job in the world that a fighter can have,” he stated, sharing his feelings with reporters, including those from Cageside Press.
Del Valle described the night as a turning point, stating, “I feel like I graduated tonight. Like the doctor that graduated, spent his entire life studying to graduate, that’s how I feel today. I graduated.” His performance not only showcased his striking abilities but also highlighted his ground game skills, meeting the high expectations set by his coaches.
Prior to the fight, Del Valle and his team anticipated that he would finish the match—either by knockout or submission. “Truthfully, my coaches and I were expecting the finish regardless of whether it came by knockout or submission. We did our job today, and we finished the fight quicker than we expected,” he shared. While the plan involved looking for a knockout, Del Valle adapted as the fight progressed and seized the opportunity to assert his ground game. “It happens. The fight ended up on the ground, and we finished it by rear-naked choke. I love that it happened that way because people think I can only strike. I can take the fight to the ground and dominate as well,” he explained.
After the fight, Del Valle mentioned that he suffered no injuries, making him eager to continue his journey in mixed martial arts. “Thank God we came out with no injuries. I’ve got some business to handle when I get back to Houston, including opening up my Cuban restaurant. I’ll get back to training as soon as possible right into fight camp and wait for the call,” Del Valle said, indicating his readiness to fight anyone who steps in his way.
With this victory at UFC Vegas 106, Yadier Del Valle proves to be a formidable contender in the featherweight division. Fans can expect to see more from this talented fighter as he continues to build on his success and demonstrate his versatile skill set in the octagon. Stay tuned for his next fight, as he's open to challenging anyone willing to step into the cage with him.
Watch the complete post-fight interview with Yadier Del Valle to get more insights into his thoughts and preparations for the future.
