LAS VEGAS – Victor Altamirano has no bitter feelings that Carlos Candelario was awarded a UFC contract off a loss.
Altamirano defeated Candelario by split decision at Dana White’s Contender Series 37 on Tuesday, but for the first time in the show’s history, White ended up giving both men a deal, which Altamirano (10-1) had no issues with.
“That’s really cool; that’s really amazing,” Altamirano said at the post-fight news conference. “He’s been here before. He came back and he fought on two weeks’ notice. If there’s anything to say about that, it’s admirable, and Dana White’s looking for fighters, and whenever you come back after fighting once and you get another fight on two weeks’ notice after being here before when you could have stopped, that’s fighting. So, yes, he should be here.”
Though he first plans on visiting his family in Mexico that he hasn’t seen since he was a kid, Altamirano is eyeing a bout with UFC flyweight Jeff Molina next.
“I would like to take a little break,” Altamirano said. “I had some stitches in my leg, I know I got a 20-day suspension for that. But I plan on going to Mexico and see my family that I haven’t seen in over 20 years this December. So if I can get a fight any time in January and then after that I’m ready to go. So, ‘El Jefe,’ I owe you a fight, brother. You asked me to fight you once, and I had just gotten out of a fight, and I was very injured. I’m sorry I said no to you. I couldn’t do it, but I owe you a fight. ‘El Jefe,’ if you’re listening, let’s do it, brother.”
