Latest

Guram Kutateladze talks future plans and controversial loss

Published

July 26, 2022

Guram Kutateladze. Photo: Johnathon Michael – Frontkick.online

In a new interview with Frontkick’s Johnathon Michael, the Swedish-Georgian lightweight Guram Kutateladze talks about future plans – and gives his take on the controversial split decision loss in June.

“I really want to fight as soon as possible. But I have a little cut on my nose that takes forever to heal. If I get the chance to go into the octagon again on October 22 in Abu Dhabi, then I’ll be very happy. It will be a great fight card as well, I just want to go in there and do my thing. I made my UFC debut in Abu Dhabi so it would feel good to go back there.”

Who the UFC will put in front of him next is nothing “The Georgian Viking” worries about.

“I don’t care who I will fight, I will just do my thing, because I think that I am on another level than the rest of the fighters.”

Controversial split decision

Guram Kutateladze last fought Damir Ismagulov on June 18. The bout ended up being a tough and technical back-and-forth war where both fighters had their moments. In the end Ismagulov stood as the winner by split decision.

“I thought I did enough to win the fight. I still believe that. In my heart and head I am a winner,” Kutateladze told Frontkick.

At the end of the last round, referee Herb Dean thought that “The Georgian Viking” landed a knee to the head of a grounded Ismagulov, and stopped the fight for a moment, which made Guram lose his momentum. Infact, Kutateladze kneed his opponent in the chest.

“It makes a big difference if you end the last round in a dominant position, that affects the outcome of the fight. Especially the last seconds. And unfortunately, the knee happened, but I felt that my knee hit him in the chest. But I can’t blame him, it is his job. What happened happened.”

“The fight felt pretty good. There are of course things that I have to work on. I need to get better in some aspects. But I felt like I dominated the fight, but it is what it is.”