LAS VEGAS – Philipe Lins beat Maxim Grishin with a unanimous decision Saturday to open up the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 45 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Grishin, who moved to 3-0 as a light heavyweight.
Maxim Grishin vs. Philipe Lins
Result: Philipe Lins def. Maxim Grishin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
Updated records: Lins (17-5 MMA, 3-2 UFC), Grishin (32-10-2 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Key stat: Grishin had more than twice as many total strikes landed as Lins, but Lins had 8:24 of total control time to sway the judges.
Grishin on the fight's key moment
“He surprised me and tried to take down me in the middle of the fight. I used this against him and made him tired. I saw the opportunity to control the fight and get the win.”
Grishin on not getting the finish
“It was good. I’m a type of fighter that, I’m looking forward to finish my opponent. But I’m ready to win my decision, too. The most important is that I got my ‘W’ again. I’m ready for everything. I knew that my opponent’s a tough guy, but I knew that if I catch him with a good punch is the beginning of the end. I’m a type of fighter that is ready for everything.”
Grishin on what he wants next
“I heard there’s going to be a card in Brazil in November. I’d love to fight for my people and I want to (take a big) step at my goals in the UFC. So Anthony Smith, what do you think of fighting in Brazil? What do you say? ”
To hear more from Grishin, 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 45.
