LAS VEGAS – Manuel Torres feels like one of the world’s best and definitely looked like it in his latest UFC fight.
“El Loco” left many fans in awe after knocking out ranked veteran Grant Dawson with ease this past Saturday on the preliminary card of UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Torres (17-3 MMA, 5-1 UFC) entered the fight as a decent underdog and yet, he only needed less than three minutes to stop Dawson (23-3-1 MMA, 11-2-1 UFC).
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Torres believes this win signals everyone in the MMA community that he’s a serious threat at 155 pounds.
“I feel the message I sent is that I’m very close to those guys in the top 10,” Torres told MMA Junkie and reporters in Spanish at the UFC 323 post-fight press conference. “I’m very close. I’m one of the best in the world, and now I’m getting close to that top 10.”
Torres would like to return to the cage in June and feels like he can hang with the very top of the division. He’s game to fight anyone the promotion puts in his way but would ideally like someone in the top 10.
“The truth is that I’ve always told Sean Shelby and Hunter yes to every fight they offer me,” Torres said. “If I say no, it’s because I’m injured or something. I’m ready for whatever they give me. Right now I just want to go home, spend the holidays with the family, have a good time, recover from some pending injuries, and come back improved to compete with the 10 best in the world. I would like someone in the top five or seven.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 323 winner calls for top-10 opponent after knockout win
