Anthony Birchak scored his first win in the UFC on Saturday night at UFC Fight Night 68 as he defeated Joe Soto by knockout in 97 seconds.
This was a matchup that was scheduled to take place last year at UFC 177, but Soto was moved to the main event on weigh-in day to challenge T.J. Dillashaw for the bantamweight title when Renan Barao was pulled from the event.
After what happened at UFC 177, Birchak (12-2) admitted at the UFC Fight Night 68 Post Fight Press Conference that this fight was special.
“It was special because it was supposed to happen at UFC 177,” Birchak said. “We were both champions coming in from different organizations. I felt kind of slighted that he got pulled up and I didn’t. I think tonight my performance kind of showed that maybe it could have gone either way. It would have been a good fight. It was a dream come true to get my first win in the UFC over a guy that was ranked in the top 15.”
With the victory on Soto in the books, what is next for the fighter originally from Tucson, Arizona? The fighter that Birchak would like to face next is number eight title contender Aljamain Sterling and he explained why this is the fight that he would want next.
“Stylistically, I think we are just fun. He is a funky wrestler and I am a funky wrestler. We both have some dynamic striking. We have gone back and fourth on Twitter and not maliciously of course.”