Mario Pinto is a heavyweight, but that doesn't mean he likes the fights he's been seeing in the division.
Following his UFC Fight Night 287 win Saturday in Paris, Pinto (13-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) called out the division as a whole.
"Heavyweights, big boys, we used to be called titans," Pinto said. "Now, we're made a mockery of, in this division. Bloody disgusting. We were once kings, monster amongst men. Give us some respect. The heavyweight division just got great again."
Pinto, 28, has the second-longest active finish streak among heavyweights behind Valter Walker. His second-round TKO of Ryan Spann made it four-in-a-row.
"I feel good, man," Pintol said backstage (h/t UFC). "I feel content. I didn't give you a scrap in London. You got a scrap now. I hope
you're entertained. I'm just staying disciplined. I've told you. I've got a lot of cage time. I don't think people understand what I've done. I've five rounds. I've done 25 minutes. I've fought three men in one night. I know he's got more fights than me, but I've definitely got more cage time. He was a good opponent. He gave me a bit of nightmares. Big boy hits hard, but I didn't shell up. I scrapped back."
The win earned Pinto a $100,000 performance bonus from the UFC, in addition to the automatic $25,000 finish bonus. Pinto has great momentum and has been pleased the judges have become irrelevant in his fights.
"I'm a winner and I like to dominate," Pinto said. "I got another finish. I went to decision last fight. I got a finish again. What's that? Four finishes now? But with the Dana White's Contender Series. That's the difference. It's all good. Even the last fight was unanimous decision – so that's some domination."
Pinto said he's eying an early 2027 return against whoever the UFC thinks is best.
"I don't know," Pinto said. "Line them up. Pay me. I want to smash people up. I'll see how I feel. Next year. I'm feel good. I'm going to go have some steaks and chill."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Mario Pinto explains difference between him and other UFC heavyweights after Paris win
