Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson and Ken Hathaway

AJ Dobson now can get past his ‘really, really dark place’ after UFC on ESPN 51 win

LAS VEGAS – AJ Dobson beat Tafon Nchukwi with a unanimous decision Saturday on the main card at UFC on ESPN 51 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Dobson, who got his first UFC win after decision losses in his first two fights in the promotion.

AJ Dobson vs. Tafon Nchukwi

Result: AJ Dobson def. Tafon Nchukwi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Dobson (7-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), Nchukwi (6-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC)
Key stats: Dobson won the striking battle 98-59 and landed a pair of takedowns that helped lead to nearly five minutes of control time.

Dobson on the fight's key moment

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 12: (L-R) AJ Dobson punches Tafon Nchukwi of Cameroon in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Powers/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“I knew he was going to be technically sound. I knew his leg kicks were going to be heavy. He comes from a really good camp, so I knew that his game plan would be good. I was just prepared for the best Tafon. … I felt a lot more light (than last time). I felt a lot more driven. I felt a lot more confident because I put in the work. That last camp, I was kind of doing it on my own. This time, I had the proper structure, proper training camp, and it paid off.”

Dobson on his struggles with an 0-2 UFC start

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AUGUST 12: (L-R) Tafon Nchukwi of Cameroon kicks AJ Dobson in a middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on August 12, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Powers/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“I’m feeling on top of the world. This win took 10 years of hard work, dedication, sacrificing, missing holidays, missing time with my siblings, my family … this one – you know, I really needed this one. And I’m really enjoying it right now. I bumped my head the first two fights. I was kind of counted out, and it just took me in a really, really dark place. I had a lot of people turn on me – a lot of fake friends exposed. I’m just so happy that I finally came out on top.”

Dobson on what he wants next

Jul 22, 2023; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Makhmud Muradov (red gloves) fights Bryan Barberena (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports

“I’m going to relax for a little bit and then I would love to get on my teammate Stipe (Miocic’s) card in November (at UFC 295). That’d be a dream come true for a kid like me. So hopefully that’s next. If not, no problem – whatever the UFC wants to do, I’m just happy to be here. I’m happy to show my skills and I’m happy to show that I belong.

“I know who would be really good: (Makhmud Muradov). He’s super scary, super skilled, big. That’d be a fight that would get me up at night, get me up early. That would get me training as much as I could. That would be a really exciting fight. That guy is a stud. He’s super talented, and I’d love to test my skills against him.”

To hear more from Dobson, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 51.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.