Nathan Fletcher hopes win over 'TUF' teammate Zygimantas Ramaska leads to 'mad takeoff'
LAS VEGAS – Nathan Fletcher beat Zygimantas Ramaska with a second-round submission Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 242 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Fletcher, whose UFC debut after Season 32 of “The Ultimate Fighter” was delayed two weeks – but likely worth the wait.
Nathan Fletcher def. Zygimantas Ramaska
Nathan Fletcher def. Zygimantas Ramaska, UFC Fight Night 242 (via UFC)
Result: Nathan Fletcher def. Zygimantas Ramaska via submission (arm-triangle choke) – Round 2, 1:14
Updated records: Fletcher (9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC), Ramaska (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: Fletcher has seven of his nine career wins by submission.
Fletcher on the fight’s key moment
“That was a unique experience because we were on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ together and we were actually on the same team. To be honest, Zygimantas was one of my friends in the house. He was someone who I was relatively close with, and therefore in the training room we went together a lot. I knew his game better than I’ve known any opponent that I’ve ever had. For me, really it was ideal coming in for my UFC debut. It’s a bit of an unknown – it’s the big leagues now. But the pressure was taken off because I knew him so well and I was able to visualize it and get in my head what it was going to be like facing him – and it played out near enough how I thought, even the bits in the first round that didn’t go my way. I was expecting a bit of chaos because I know what ‘Zygi’ is like.”
ARM TRIANGLE ALERT #TUF32's Nathan Fletcher gets the tap in Round 2 at #UFCVegas97! pic.twitter.com/uhrzfb9UAe
— UFC (@ufc) September 7, 2024
Fletcher on the two-week delay
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 07: (L-R) Nathan Fletcher of England punches Zygimantas Ramaska of Lithuania in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on September 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“I had to stay focused and trust the process, and that’s something I’ve learned to do over my career. Even on Cage Warriors on the regional scene, I’ve had moments like this – I’ve had fights fall through last minute. I’ve had injuries and camps (wasted). I’ve had stuff out of my control, taking my dream away from me, so I’m no stranger to adversity and all of that. I said it so many times and it finally feels so good to say that that’s paid off. I’m here now. I’ve got the job done. I’m in the UFC and everything I’ve learned over my short career so far is going to fuel me and take me forward to this mad takeoff I’m about to have right now.”
Fletcher on what he wants next
“100 percent, (I want to fight often) and I know my level. I know where I’m at. I’m ready for anyone in the UFC. My mindset now is I’ve had the delays, I’ve had the inactivity, I’ve had periods of months at a time sitting out waiting. Now I’m here, I’m fresh, I’m injury free: Let’s go. Let’s start racking them up – get some money behind me, get some wins behind me and get ranked, get working toward the title.”
To hear more from Fletcher, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.