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MEXICO CITY – Muhammad Naimov beat Erik Silva with a first-round injury TKO Saturday to open up the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 237 at Mexico City Arena.
Take a look inside the fight with Naimov, whose early kick made Silva backpedal into an awkward placement against the cage and a likely knee injury.
Naimov on the fight’s key moment
“He’s a very respectful guy. I know that attack (I threw) can cause that. It can cause the opponent to step badly and have that injury, but I don’t know. Maybe my opponent was already injured before. I don’t know. I respect him a lot.”
Naimov on fighting at altitude
“I’m a mountain man – 93 percent of Tajikistan is mountains. The highest mountain in Tajikistan (is more than 24,000 feet). (Mexico City’s elevation) doesn’t matter – no elevation, sea level, on Mars … I’m ready to fight anywhere. I’m an international fighter. I was in Abu Dhabi. I was in United States. I’m in Mexico City right now.”
Naimov on what he wants next
“There is a card in Saudi Arabia in June. It’s after Ramadan. I want to fight there. It doesn’t matter. Whatever opportunities come, we’re going to take. I want to fight top 15, top 10, top five. It doesn’t matter. I want to fight anyone.”
To hear more from Naimov, check out the video above.
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This story originally appeared on MMA Junkie