Nathaniel Wood is back in action at UFC Fight Night London, facing Jose Alberto Quinones in a bantamweight division attraction.
The bantamweight prospect is making a dream come true at the event, as it is his first bout as a UFC fighter in London.
“Honestly, it is a dream come true. I’m not just saying that, I know people use that term all of the time…but it really is. The first UFC event I ever went to was to watch my coach Brad Pickett fight Neil Seery, probably five years ago. I didn’t even know Brad at the time and I remember thinking to myself ‘man, if I can headline this show one day…that’s the pinnacle of where I want to be.’ I’m not headlining it, but I’m on the card. Hopefully I get a shot on the main card, if I don’t…I don’t care. I’m still there and that for me, as you say, if definitely one off of the bucket list,” says Wood in an exclusive interview with Fightful’s James Lynch.
Wood has competed in his home country of England before, but those bouts took place in other promotions like Cage Warriors and BAMMA.
Although Wood isn’t ranked in the UFC Bantamweight Division top 15 at the moment, it hasn’t diluted his confidence as far as beating the ranked opposition.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’ll take on anyone in the top ten (of the) division now. I know I’m ready, I got the skill set to beat anyone there is in bantamweight in the world. So as soon as the UFC wants to give me a highly guy…100% I’ll take that and I’m very confident that I’ll beat them,” says Wood.
UFC Fight Night London takes place on Saturday, March 16 from the 02 Arena in London, England with Darren Till and Jorge Masvidal headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, which streams live on ESPN+.
