For three consecutive years now, welterweight fighter Santiago Ponzinibbio has been able to prove his worth in the UFC. Currently on a seven-fight win streak since 2015, the Argentinian is now on his second Performance of the Night-worthy showing with a fourth-round finish of Neil Magny on Saturday night in front of his home crowd.
Like many others after a notable performance and the credentials to boot, Ponzinibbio is shooting for the stars. In an interview with MMAjunkie after the fight, he did not shy away from his real sentiments about his fellow UFC fighters, and whom he intends to face next.
“You give me McGregor, I am a better striker than him,” Ponzinibbio said. “He’s really good at trash talk and he’s a really good businessman, but I’m a better fighter. This is different. I’m a better striker. I have better timing. I have better power. I’ll finish him, for sure. I’ll finish McGregor.
“I’ll finish GSP – GSP is old. He’s a good guy. I like him. I’m a big fan. But I’m better. I’ll finish him. I’m ready for both. I’m an exciting fighter.”
Ponzinibbio, however, feels the politics within the company is a deterrent to his success. He went on to state his case by comparing himself to current 170-pound champion Tyron Woodley.
“Tyron Woodley, when he got the title shot, he had six fights for the company,” the 32-year-old fighter said. “He won four and lost two. He lost to Rory MacDonald, and then got two fights – two easy fights. Koscheck and that other guy, and they gave him a title shot. C’mon! This is ridiculous!
“Always, my fights are exciting. He’s not an exciting fighter. I opened a new market in my country with the pressure and the expectations. I won for my people – that is something Tyron is not ready for. And that is something he will never do.”
Ponzinibbio (27-3, with 21 wins by stoppage), already issued a warning to Woodley, but for now intends to face the winner of the Rafael dos Anjos-Kamaru Usman tiff at the TUF 28 Finale on November 30th in Las Vegas.