LAS VEGAS – Chris Curtis had planned to take a break from MMA to rebuild his body. At that moment, the phone rang.
After Marvin Vettori missed Saturday's UFC Fight Night 240 headliner against Brendan Allen (23-5 MMA, 11-2 UFC) at UFC Apex (ESPN+) due to injury, the promotion announced Curtis (31-0 MMA) (10 losses, 5 wins in the UFC). -2 UFC) and offered him a replacement opportunity.
“We shouldn't have fought,” Curtis told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday's media day. “There was an agreement with Cash, like with my strength coach and everything else, 'OK, we're going to stay at 85 (not drop to welterweight).' Let's gain some weight. “I'm walking around at 200 pounds, but I've gotten to 210 pounds and put on muscle to get to 210 pounds, and I wanted to get a little bigger. Then this happened. So I thought, “Okay, I'm going to abandon that plan. I have a new plan.” I'm here. ”
Curtis expressed his desire to main event at UFC Apex in an interview with MMA Junkie Radio following his win over Marc-Andre Barrio at UFC 297, but he didn't expect it to happen this soon. I hadn't.
The UFC was also willing to accept Curtis' agreement, so Curtis simply couldn't say no.
“I really enjoy money,” Curtis said. “If you offer to pay me, I'll do terrible things for money, and I love to fight. I love to fight more than anything,” he said once. And I'll say it again: To be honest, I'd rather fight than shit. This is what I'll do.”
For Curtis, a rematch with Allen is an attractive opportunity. Curtis stormed Allen in his first fight in the UFC on ESPN 31 in December 2021, winning with a second-round TKO upset and earning Performance of the Night honors.
Since that fight, Curtis is 3-2, including one no contest. Meanwhile, Allen has racked up six straight wins (five of which were due to stoppage) and has soared past Curtis in the rankings.
It's important for Curtis to repeat this feat this weekend, and he thinks getting this win is more important to his career trajectory than Allen's.
“Brendan is a dog,” Curtis said. “He's done really well since we last fought. Brendan's 27 years old. God, I wish I was 27 too. At 27, I think he's the best in this sport. I can't imagine what he will accomplish. He has at least another 10 years left, so I'm sure he will accomplish big things. It's going to be crazy. But this is an opportunity for me.
“I'm turning 37 this year. I don't have time to take it easy. I don't think I'll have a 10-year career in the UFC. So when you see numbers above me and you get an opportunity to take it, you have to take it. This is one of those times.”
For more information on the card, check out MMA Junkie's UFC Fight Night 240 event hub.
The story originally appeared on MMA Junkie
