One thing needs to made abundantly clear right here and right now. Jason Dent did not beat me. I gassed due to illness and tapped because I was exhausted. Dent got very very lucky. And he knows it.
I'm not a bad loser, but give me the chance to finish what I started.
The UFC must realize that I only lost because I gassed due to Bronchitis. It was obvious for everyone to see that I completely outclassed Jason Dent so hopefully I’ll get another chance. I’m still training full pace in the hope they’ll give me a second chance.
I destroyed him in the first round but then gassed in the second. Even then he couldn’t finish me properly because I tapped when he didn’t even have the choke on. I thought a nice little tap would be preferable to getting punched in the face because I couldn’t lift my arms.
I could have held on easily without tapping, but I wouldn’t have been able to stand up. I was dying in that second round so I thought the tap was the best way out. After the fight I said I wasn’t bothered about losing, and I meant it because I don’t feel I lost. I was just too ill.
Put me in The Octagon 100 percent fit against Jason Dent and I would absolutely destroy him. The amount of support I’ve had from MMA fans, I think The UFC wouldn’t even be taking a gamble by giving me a second chance.
The fact is, I should have beaten him even at 50 percent of my full powers. When I mounted him, I should have just punched him rather than looking for the submission.
I’m absolutely positive I can beat him. I was on antibiotics for 15 days before the fight, I think I deserve the chance to fight him when I’m fit and well because it would be a completely different story. The first round would be the same as the second and third – if it even goes that far.
Dent was terrible. I had him in a kneebar and would have finished him but for the fact I had nothing left in me. Roger Huerta couldn’t do that, Gleison Tibau couldn’t do that. I would have subbed him, no doubt. If Dent’s been in with the big boys, surely I deserve a chance.
I’m going to keep training hard for my break, the whole Ultimate Fighter experience has opened my eyes up to different sides of MMA. Things like wrestling, there’s not a lot in this country. I’ve adapted my game since coming out of the house, I’m training much much harder, and I’m aiming for The UFC – it remains the place I want to be.