Kris Moutinho on UFC 264 debut against Sean O’Malley: “I can beat him”
Interview with Kris Moutinho above
Fighting Sean O’Malley on the main card of UFC 264 is like winning the lottery according to Kris Moutinho.
Instead of preparing to win the CFFC bantamweight strap in August, the 28-year-old is earning a direct route to the UFC on 10-days notice. Moutinho is grateful for the opportunity, but a call-up to the UFC is not the end goal. It’s just the beginning for the Massachusetts native.
“I’m thankful, I like presents, I like chances to go out there and show what I’m about and who I am as a person,” Moutinho said.
“I think I can beat him, why not take this shot and know that I am coming for my spot in the UFC, I’m coming for my chance at the UFC title.”
Kris Moutinho just wants a chance
Moutinho waited for a chance like this since he was 15 years old. He is coming into the promotion on short notice, but is planning this fight to be the beginning of a long career inside the octagon.
Moutinho is not shy about calling this the biggest fight of his career. He will meet O’Malley, a household name in the UFC, inside a sold-out T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
With O’Malley’s eight victories by TKO/knockout, Moutinho is already receiving a lot of messages from fans about the possibility of being knocked out. For someone who has been in the cage with UFC bantamweight Tony Gravely and Bellator’s Johnny Campbell, Moutinho is not afraid to lose.
With that being said. Moutinho is not shying away from the opportunity either.
“I can go into any fight and get knocked out, go into any fight and lose. Losing is not something I’m scared of,” Moutinho said. “I am ready for whatever the outcome is, I am just going to enjoy this moment and let the world know who I am.”
Making the cut
A short-notice fight for Moutinho means he is in the midst of the shortest weight cut of his career. Making 135 pounds is one of the reasons he is getting the opportunity in the first place.
On the latest episode of the TimboSugarShow Podcast, O’Malley came close to booking a fight with UFC bantamweight Ricky Simon. The bout fell through when Simon requested a fight at featherweight due to the short notice.
Mountinho is more than happy to oblige O’Malley’s bantamweight request, considering the weight cut is part of the job.
“I’m a professional, I have to make the weight, if I can’t make the weight then I shouldn’t be in the UFC,” Moutinho said. “I know it’s 10 days, but if I say I am going to do something, I usually do it.”
Expecting a war
Moutinho is looking to take O’Malley into deep waters, an unlikely place for “Sugar,” who earned finishes in his last three victories. According to Moutinho, the longer the fight goes, the better he gets.
His record exemplifies that, earning back-to-back finishes in later rounds. He most recently tapped Andrew Salas in the third round at CFFC 96 in May. He previously finished Ashiek Ajim by second-round TKO at CES 61 last October.
Moutinho knows the striking ability of O’Malley, but at the same time, he is confident in his capabilities. Moutinho is not a well known name to UFC fans yet, but he plans to change that this weekend, win or lose.
“This is going to be a war, I’m not coming for no 10-second knockout, this is going to be a bloodbath, I can’t wait,” Moutinho said. “I’m going to stay in his face and make this a dirty ugly fight, we are going to get 50 G’s baby, real quick.”
