Las Vegas — Mongolian flyweight Niyamjargal Tumendemberel went the distance with Cody Durden at UFC 326 on Saturday, serving up a fourth straight loss for the American.
After the decision win, Tumendemberel (17-10-1) admitted that the wrestling-heavy affair didn’t go according to plan.
“That was not the game plan, our game plan was just to start the fight and finish him right away in the first round,” Tumendemberel said, speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press backstage at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. “He came out very wrestling heavy, so we were happy, we showed our wrestling game as well and most importantly, we got the W.”
“I wasn’t really expecting to wrestle for 15 minutes, but that’s how the fight played out, and it is what it is. We got the W this way.”
Tumendemberel also addressed some late strikes in the fight, saying simply that “I just felt like, I just want to get one good hit in. That’s the fight game.”
Moving forward, the fighter known as the “Art of Knockout” wants to grow his skillset. And he’s willing to travel the world to expand his repertoire.
“I come from a very nomadic culture, I still live that very nomadic lifestyle, I’m in the countryside. I honestly look to improve my fighting game from here, it’s only upwards from here. I’m even open to exploring bigger camps, bigger teams on the worldwide stage,” he stated, adding that the goal was “constantly improving my skills and really showing the world what I’m made of.”
Watch the full UFC 326 post-fight press conference with Niyamjargal Tumendemberel above.