NEW YORK – Phil Hawes defeated Michael Wilcox at the end of the first round on Friday on the preliminary card of Bellator 222 at Madison Square Garden.
Take a look inside the fight with Hawes and what he thinks could come next.
Result: Phil Hawes def. Michael Wilcox via TKO (doctor stoppage) – Round 1, 5:00
Updated records: Hawes (5-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA), Wilcox (6-4 MMA, 0-1 BMMA)
Key stat: Fighting for the first-time in two years, the much-hyped middleweight prospect won for the first time in three years
Hawes on getting back into the win column
“It’s good. It’s good to be back here. I’ve been active outside of the MMA circuit, but this is first the first MMA fight I won (in three years). It feels good, mixed emotions. I was hoping for more of a dogfight, he’s a tough wrestler in there, so I wanted more of a dogfight to get me ready for the title fights.”
On what he did during his time away from MMA
“I’ve been trying to figure it out, you know? A lot of people take a loss in the game and they’re just like, ‘Oh, he got me.’ And they really don’t pick it apart, how did he get me, what was I doing wrong. So I took time, traveled to Thailand, fought there for kickboxing.”
On his Bellator contract status
“Right now it’s a one-off, but I think I’m going get a phone call. We’ll see.”
To hear more from Hawes, watch his full post-fight interview in the video above.
For more on Bellator 222, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
