PERTH, Australia – Jamie Mullarkey beat Francisco Prado with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 284 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.
Take a look inside the fight with Mullarkey, who has four wins in his past five fights after starting his UFC run with back-to-back losses.
Jamie Mullarkey vs. Francisco Prado
Result: Jamie Mullarkey def. Francisco Prado via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Mullarkey (16-5 MMA, 4-3 UFC) def. Francisco Prado (11-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stat: Mullarkey outstruck Prado 78-31 and landed three takedowns.
Mullarkey on the fight's key moment
“I wasn’t surprised with his toughness because he looks like a game guy watching some of his fights. Some of his wins come from him after being dominated for a round or two. So I wasn’t surprised at his toughness, but I felt like the finish was there in the third if I just upped the pace a little bit. But he’s still dangerous there, too, so I just didn’t want to get caught trying to force something.”
Mullarkey on being cautious
“He’s dangerous, so that’s where the safety – not playing it safe, but just not giving him a chance. We were looking to get the reads on him and just show you that at this level, it’s a little bit different. Hat’s off to him, though. He stood up and took this fight. My opponent pulled out nine weeks out. No one stepped up. I know a lot of people got offered that fight. I would have come out to Australia for a free holiday. Luck, you know what I mean? (I’m) always gobsmacked that no one wanted to fight. But Francisco stepped up.”
Mullarkey on what he wants next
“I think (Paddy Pimblett is) a good fight, and I think it’s a high possibility that fight could happen. I’ve got my Irish heritage, ‘The Hooligan’ vs. ‘The Baddy,’ man. Don’t tell me that’s not an exciting fight. Put that on a card, that’s going to wreak havoc. I know.
“I thought he lost his last fight, honestly. But he comes to fight, and that’s why I say ‘The Hooligan’ vs. ‘The Baddy’ would be a sick fight, because we both – can’t we bring it? His game is tough. I see holes in his game. I’m sure he’d see holes in mine and we’d put on a f*cking show. I know we would. That fight has been on my mind for a little while. … I don’t think he’ll take it, but never say never. I think it’s a fight to get up and for sure, maybe over in London. I’d love to go into his backyard.
“I won’t wait around. I won’t wait for him. But it’s the fight that I want. It’s definitely the most exciting fight that’s going to propel me up, but I want to fight. Taking this fight with Francisco, people were saying, ‘Oh, it’s risky, man.’ I’m a f*cking fighter. I want to fight. I don’t care who it is – I want to get paid.”
To hear more from Mullarkey, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 284.
