Marcus McGhee explains how he won on just three days’ notice at UFC Fight Night 223
LAS VEGAS – Marcus McGhee beat Journey Newson with a second-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 223 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with McGhee, who took the fight on just three days’ notice.
Marcus McGhee vs. Journey Newson
Result:
Marcus McGhee def. Journey Newson via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:03
Updated records: McGhee (7-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Newson (10-5 MMA, 1-4 UFC)
Key stat: McGhee has all seven of his wins by stoppage, but Saturday’s victory was his first submission.
McGhee on the fight's key moment
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 29: (R-L) Journey Newson kicks Marcus McGhee in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“My game plan was to come knock him out. That was my game plan. I didn’t know if it was going to be left hand, right hand, head kick – I didn’t know what it was going to be … body shot … I was just like, ‘All right, I’m just going to throw the kitchen sink at him.’ That was my original plan. I knew he was tough. I knew he could hit hard. I just wanted to have faith in the fact that I had done all the work and that I was going to be quick enough and sharp enough to get the job done.”
McGhee on making a statement
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – APRIL 29: (L-R) Journey Newson kicks Marcus McGhee in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on April 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“Everybody pumping me up again, me getting in my own head all the time, like, ‘Oh man, everybody’s just pumping me up. They’re just gassing me. I don’t know how this is going to end up.’ I don’t get into it too much. I’m such a weird, different type of person. I was trying to ignore all that noise. My team is the best team – they are really honest. If you’re not doing good, they’re going to tell you that. So I kept telling myself that, too: ‘Hey, they’re not just telling me these things because they’re just telling me.’ But I think it was definitely a performance to put me on the map, for sure.”
McGhee on what he wants next
Marcus McGhee vs. Journey Newson
“(I want to be back) as soon as possible. I might have a couple injuries – we’ll see. I threw a couple kicks that I have to find out about. I would love to fight International Fight Week – that sounds great – or August, something like that. I don’t want to take too long. I’d like to fight two times this year if I can – so two more times in the UFC this year. I want to be active. I haven’t been as active in my career as I’d like to be, so, that’s what I’d like to do. If we can get a good matchup and get back in here, that’s what I’m here to do.”
To hear more from McGhee, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 223.
