TORONTO – Sam Patterson beat Yohan Lainesse with a first-round submission Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 297 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Take a look inside the fight with Patterson, who bounced back from a knockout loss 10 months ago for a quick finish of his own in his welterweight debut.
Yohan Lainesse vs. Sam Patterson
Result: Sam Patterson def. Yohan Lainesse via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:03
Updated records: Patterson (11-2-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Lainesse (9-3 MMA, 1-3 UFC)
Key stats: Six Patterson’s 11 wins have been by submission.
Patterson on the fight's key moment
“I spent 10 years at lightweight. I just feel like I’ve turned the page. I always said I’d go up to welterweight as soon as lightweight got too difficult. Making the move to that just feels like I’ve turned the page and I’ve started a new chapter in the UFC. Let’s do another 10 years at welterweight. Who knows? Five years I could end up at middleweight.”
Patterson on training with Michael Page
“He’s an animal. He’s a great guy. He’s invited me to his gym. He can come down to ours. He’s incredible. He really is. I was lucky enough to train with him when I first turned pro six, seven years ago, and obviously he was doing what he was doing and he was so fast then, and then obviously come to our gym and I was lucky enough to get sparring in with him then. Six years on and I’m in the UFC and he’s just as fast as he was back then, six years ago. He’s an amazing athlete and I look forward to watching him in the UFC.”
Patterson on what he wants next
“I would love a busy year. As long as I’m healthy, I’d like to compete. That’s why the move up to welterweight was smart, as well. Lightweight, even if I was healthy, I could only fight two, maybe three times a year because of the weight cut. I couldn’t turn around quick. At welterweight, I can turn around a lot quicker – I’m a lot more healthy. As long as I’m healthy, I want to compete. I really want to change my life this year, and I have the opportunity to do that in the UFC.”
To hear more from Patterson, check out the video above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 296.
