NEW YORK – Even though he’s relived with his victory, Shane Burgos’ initial read on his UFC 268 bout is he did not live up to his own expectations.
The second bout on the pay-per-view main card Saturday, Burgos (13-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) defeated Billy Quarantillo via unanimous decision. After a difficult first round, Burgos rallied to pour offense on Quarantillo in the final two rounds.
“I got a quick submission win here,” Burgos told MMA Junkie at a post-fight news conference. “I’ve got a third-round TKO here. And now I’ve got a three-round, crazy, wild fight that I did not anticipate. I was prepared for it, but I did not want it to go that way. Honestly, I’m happy and relieved I won, but I’m not too happy with my performance. I’ve got to watch it back, but right now, I’m not too happy.”
On another card, Burgos vs. Quarantillo might have won the “Fight of the Night” bonus. Unfortunately for the two combatants, however, the fight came immediately after an all-time battle between fan favorites Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler.
Burgos recognizes the fight was fun and competitive – two things he expected. However, he wishes he stuck to his gameplan from the get-go.
“Don’t get me wrong, I knew it was a f*cking phenomenal fight,” Burgos said. “I knew it was going to be an awesome, entertaining fight. Like my coaches said, I was just too flat in that first round. I didn’t do the game plan whatsoever until the second and third round, which was go to the calf. I barely did it. I don’t even know if I did it. Did I even throw and frickin’ low kicks in the first round? Barely? A couple, a couple, right? It took me a while to get going and I gave that first round away. That pisses me off.”
As for what’s next, Burgos said he’s not focused on his next fight. After an intense fight camp, his wife and young children are his priority as the holiday season rolls around.
“I’ve got to get an X-ray on my hand,” Burgos said. “We’ve got to see how that’s going. It’s hurting a little bit right now. I’m going to enjoy the holidays with the family. I’ve got a 6-month-old daughter. She was 3 weeks old and I had a fight camp and I had a fight, so I was like, ‘That was rough, basically leaving my wife high and dry.’ She had to deal with that. Now, I have a 6-month-old and I’m leaving her high and dry again. So I need a little bit of a baby daughter-daddy time. I’ve got a 4-year-old at home, too. I’m just going to enjoy the holidays with them, maybe go to Disney World or something.”
UFC 268 took place Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The main card streamed on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPN News/ESPN+.