LAS VEGAS – Otari Tanzilovi made a statement Saturday at UFC Fight Night 290 when he picked up his first victory with a head kick knockout of Malcolm Wellmaker at Meta APEX.
The impression was what Tanzilovi (11-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) hoped to make in his UFC debut months ago, but he'll settle for the delay given the result.
"I was really well prepared for everything he was ready to throw at me," Tanzilovi told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter after the fight. "I have to give him credit. He got me a couple times. He got me well in the first round. I felt his power. He's a very strong puncher. I was able to carry it. I was able to figure him out. I was able to calculate his distance. Once I broke his distance, once I started working
on my offense, I saw that he had nothing to give me back so that's why I was able to get him out there."
"I felt really great in the fight, all of it I can contribute to a lot of training with my coach, Matheos and my coach Artem and my coach Levan. We worked together, and we really worked on figuring out the opponent. I was ready for the fight. I felt really good. I know the first round went back and forth. In the second round, I knew if I caught him he was going to go down."
Tanzilovi, 28, made his debut in June when he lost to Shane Collins by unanimous decision in a relatively unremarkable bout turned in by both men. That might explain his underdog status entering Saturday's bout. Tanzilovi is thrilled to have shown the world a sample reflective of what he thinks is his level of ability.
"A lot of people who didn't know me, they didn't know my style, they didn't know what I can do," Tanzilovi said. "But the folks that know me, the folks that work with me, they know what I'm able to do. I had little injuries. My knees were hurting. I had surgery on my knees. Now, I don't have those injuries anymore. Now, I want to say to all the fans: I am back. I am here. I'm going to show you some exciting fights. Just you watch. That is why I used to grapple and wrestle in my fights because my knees were hurting. Now, there's no more pain. I will show you that I can finish any opponent they put in front of me."
As for what's next, Tanzilovi said... whatever. It's up to the UFC, but the man sounds ready.
"I'm ready to come back next month if I have to," Tanzilovi said.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Health is wealth: Otari Tanzilovi points to difference maker in UFC Vegas 122 win
