Jose Delgado, fresh off his unanimous decision victory over Austin Bashi last Saturday at UFC Fight Night 281, is not messing around. The featherweight (12-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is making it crystal clear he wants a step-up fight, specifically calling out higher-ranked opposition like Steve Garcia or Aaron Pico.
Delgado’s Confidence Is Sky High After Latest Win
This guy is on a roll. Delgado just notched his second straight win by beating Austin Bashi (14-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) on the preliminary card in Oklahoma City. You gotta love that kind of momentum. He’s building something serious. Before this two-fight streak, he took a decision loss to veteran Nathaniel Wood, a fighter he rates super highly. Delgado said he thinks Wood hasn’t gotten the opportunities he deserves, adding, “skill for skill, I’m ready to compete with them all.” That’s the kind of fighter you want to root for, someone who respects his opponents but believes in himself even more. He’s not just throwing names out there either; Delgado sees Garcia or Pico as “pretty realistic” opportunities, and he thinks somebody in those ranges “would be sick.” He’s ready to prove he belongs in that next tier.
Noche UFC Is Calling, But The Clock Is Ticking
So, the talk around the sport is that a return at this year’s Noche UFC would be perfect for Delgado. He’s Mexican-American, lives and fights out of Arizona, and Noche UFC takes place on September 12 at the Diamond Desert Arena in Glendale, Ariz. That’s a dream scenario right there, fighting in front of his home crowd, his family, his friends. Delgado even said, “that would be a dream come true.” But here’s the twist: the timeline is looking super tough. This last camp took a lot out of him, and he’d have to jump right back into it next Monday to be ready for the Noche card. That’s only seven weeks away, and he wished it was ten. He admits, “It’d be tough,” but he also knows a huge opportunity is a huge opportunity. “If they come to me with an opportunity that makes too much sense to pass up, then yeah, we’ll run it,” he said. Otherwise, he wants to take his time and get a “reset.”
What a dilemma for Delgado. Does he push himself for a shot at Noche UFC, possibly against one of the big names he’s calling out? Or does he play it safe, get that reset, and wait for the perfect opportunity? Either way, keep an eye on Jose Delgado, because whatever move he makes next, it’s going to be a big one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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