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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Matt Erickson and Ken Hathaway

Joanderson Brito says callout of Dan Ige is nothing personal, just business

LAS VEGAS – Joanderson Brito beat Westin Wilson with a first-round knockout Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 47 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Brito, who won for the third straight time since a loss in his UFC debut.

Joanderson Brito vs. Westin Wilson

Result: Joanderson Brito def. Westin Wilson via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:54
Updated records: Brito (15-3-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC), Wilson (16-8 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: All three of Brito’s wins on his current streak have been first-round stoppages.

Brito on the fight's key moment

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 01: (R-L) Joanderson Brito of Brazil punches Westin Wilson in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on July 01, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“It was actually pretty chill (when he was trying to submit me). I only had two things to worry about at that moment. First off, I thought, do I just get up and start (over)? Let’s get this back on our feet again? Or the other: Start striking. And then I noticed that both of his hands were so busy trying to grab my leg, so I just found the opportunity to start striking him, and that’s when I started striking him all over the place.”

Brito on staying calm in the submission attempt

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 01: (L-R) Westin Wilson punches Joanderson Brito of Brazil in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on July 01, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“A lot of people just see me as a striker – just always going to be standing and knocking people out. But I’m a jiu-jitsu brown belt.”

Brito on what he wants next

Jun 10, 2023; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Dan Ige is declared the winner by decision against Nate Landwehr during UFC 289 at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

“It’s not much myself (who wants to fight Dan Ige), but I think MMA fans would like to see that. That’s just a guy who – it’s a striking style, and then you also have a guy who’s promising. So it’s just something you show for everybody, and it’s a business. (It’s nothing personal) – not at all, only business. It can be next month, two months, three months, but the most important thing is that I actually fight two more times this year.”

To hear more from Brito, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 47.

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