Phil Davis happy with his performance against Nogueira at UFC Fight Night 24… even if you’re not

UFC light heavyweight prospect, Phil Davis has been attempting to answer those critics who came down hard on him following his UFC Fight Night 24 win over Brazilian veteran, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira this past weekend in Seattle, explaining he was happy with his performance if no one else was.
Speaking via Pro MMA Radio, Davis said:

“I literally started fighting two years ago. This is not something I’d been doing. Nogueira has been fighting so much longer than I have. It’s crazy to me that I was even able to compete with him because he’s so experienced and so much further the veteran in the sport. I’m happy that I was able to get a win over someone so tough.”

“I’m just a young cat working my way up. I entered the UFC last February and I’ve had five fights in a short period of time. I’ve never once mentioned the title shot or anything of the sort. I’m content working my way up and progressing as a fighter. Everyone else seems to be ‘Oh you have to fight for the title because who else can beat Jon Jones?’ I’m working my way up dude. I don’t care what I look like right now. I’m winning and I’m working my butt off and I’m getting better. That’s what I’m suppose to be doing right now, not preparing myself for the guy at the top of the division.”

“I need my body to heal up and I need to train in the gym for about four or five months hard and if I see the necessary improvements. If my game is coming along perfectly and I’m making the necessary leaps as far as my skills and my comfort, then we’ll take a fight. I didn’t feel anymore jitters. I felt the same. I have great corners and great coaches. I had my former Penn State wrestling teammate with me and he’s just really good at keeping me light.”

“I knew what it took to be a champion in wrestling and from that I just applied myself in mixed martial arts. I remember when I used to have the ugliest punch ever. You literally can not get any better until you keep punching the bag over and over again the wrong way. Then you realize ‘Oh this is so much better for me to punch the right way.’ You have to spend time in the gym.”

Davis now finds himself on the verge of being a title contender at 205 pounds and could wind up facing someone like former champion, Forrest Griffin in his next fight inside the world famous octagon.