Julio Arce wants new contract, then Nathaniel Wood after UFC on ESPN 54
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – Julio Arce beat Herbert Burns with a second-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 54 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.
Take a look inside the fight with Arce, who was ineligible for a bonus because he missed weight for his featherweight debut.
Julio Arce def. Herbert Burns
Result: Julio Arce def. Herbert Burns via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:00
Updated records: Arce (19-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC), Burns (11-5 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Key stats: Arce has alternated wins and losses for nine fights.
Arce on the fight's key moment
“It marks a year since I got ACL surgery. That’s in the back of your mind, just recovering, going through all that, doing a fight camp without getting injured. And then I missed weight by a pound. So my back was against the wall and I’m just like, ‘You know what? Go out, show out, leave it all in there.’ I’m just so thankful for all the other people in my corner.”
Arce on his dad's cancer
“My dad is fighting stage IV cancer and it’s not easy. I told my coaches that I’m using it as my fire. I know if he’s fighting that fight, I’ve got to win this fight. That’s not easy. To anybody out there who’s going through a tough time, stand your ground. Keep going. Don’t give up. Keep your head up and just fight on. Fight on.”
Arce on what he wants next
“Let’s get another contract and then we’ll schedule a fight. I know there’s a bunch of ’45ers that are available, so if you want to go toward the end of the year, let me know. But let’s, let’s take a run at this (featherweight division). I think I saw Nathaniel Wood, who’s a former 135er who moved up. That’d be a possible opponent. He doesn’t have anybody yet. Whether I go to the U.K. or he comes here (doesn’t matter). But first, let’s get this next contract and let’s make a run at this.”
To hear more from Arce, check out the video above.
UFC on ESPN 54 Images
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 54.
