Las Vegas — Peruvian featherweight Ian Escuza earned a UFC deal on the Contender Series on Tuesday night, but the finish to his fight came with a lot of controversy.
Escuza (8-0) had opponent Luca Borando hurt along the fence when he landed a clearly illegal knee in the finishing sequence of the fight. Ref Herb Dean apparently missed it, while commission officials cageside reviewed the sequence, then for some inexplicable reason decided to disregard it and allow the result to stand.
Dana White himself was critical of the call, but Escuza is in the UFC regardless, and feels the fight was over either way.
“To be honest, I was so happy until I see the recap. I didn’t realize, of course it wasn’t on purpose. It was an accident. I realized after the fight,” Escuza said, giving his reaction to media outlets including Cageside Press. “Even though he was already done, I felt his body falling already when I kneed the body; he was already done. He already left the fight literally. The fight was done, I still earned the contract. I’m really happy right now.”
“I suffered a little bit with Dana’s comments, but it is what it is. I gotta be honest. I come from Muay Thai, I’m a traditional fighter, I respect my opponents, and it is what it is. But I deserve it. He was done.”
Escuza has matchmaker Sean Shelby to thank for his UFC deal, after Shelby convinced White to sign the featherweight. “I’m really glad, and I want to use this moment to thank Sean Shelby and my manager for this opportunity,” Escuza stated.
“For real I wasn’t expecting that, like Sean fighting for me to be there. I really appreciate it, and it’s going to be worth it. I’m a guy that works really hard towards his dreams. The opportunity he gave me right now is going to change my life, my family’s life.” With a son who’s just four years old, Escuza is fighting for his family. “He [Shelby] won’t regret it. I promise.”
Anyone watching the fight was no doubt surprised to see Borando clinch up with Escuza, a Muay Thai specialist. Escuza himself was shocked as well.
“I thought the same thing honestly,” he told Cageside Press. “The whole camp, I was like ‘I hope he tries to clinch me,’ because that’s my background. I’ve been clinching my whole life, and I’m really good at it. So I was a little surprised he did it, but I was happy. As soon as I grabbed him, I’m like ‘okay, he’s gone. That’s it. He’s done.’”
Watch the full Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 8 post-fight press conference with Ian Escuza above.