LAS VEGAS – Adriano Yanez It ended the worst period of his fighting career and he couldn’t be happier.
The UFC bantamweight is winless in 2023, being stopped by Jonathan Martinez and Rob Font in two consecutive fights. Yanez (17-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) entered Saturday UFC 241 Fight Night determined to get back into the win column, and he did so in impressive fashion. Yanez defeated Vinicius Salvador (14-7 MMA, 0-3 UFC) with a brutal right hand in the first round of the fight.
“It feels really, really good,” Yanez said in a post-fight press conference, reflecting on his big win. “Last year was shit. I can’t sugarcoat it, it was terrible for me. It really took a toll on me, especially having surgery at the end of the year and having to sit out a little bit, and having to sit out with my own thoughts. Sitting on the machine and moving my leg really sucked for me, but it kind of made me realize that no one else would want this as much as I did.
“I had to pick myself up and move on. At the end of the day, it’s on me. I put myself in that position. It was my fault. My year 2023 was caused by me and I have to get out of this. No one else to blame but myself and at the end of the day, 2024 is right here, we’re five months in and I’m finally here. I’m really excited to get the win, so yeah, I’m happy.”
Yanez doesn’t want to stop at Saturday’s victory. He wants to continue climbing the ranks and hopes to have the opportunity to do so at the UFC 306 pay-per-view, which will be held at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
“Some guys questioned me,” Yanez said. “I know that John Castañeda has a very tough fight ahead of him, Daniel Marcos. Daniel Santos, on the other hand, doesn’t have a fight book, so in The Sphere I wouldn’t mind that at all. That would be fun. Furthermore, Victor Henry was very good in the last fight, I think it would be a fight for the fans. I think the fans would really love that.
“But all of that doesn’t matter to me, it’s all respect except for the two who called me, so it’s all love. I’m going to come out here and fight hard against everyone, so that’s what it is.”
For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC 241 Fight Night.
