Ryan Rozicki says he was ready to keep fighting after his brutal cruiserweight battle with Chris Billam-Smith, even though his corner stopped the fight before the eighth round.
Rozicki and Billam-Smith produced one of the most violent fights of the year, with both men taking heavy shots throughout. Rozicki absorbed serious punishment, especially in round six, but says survival was never his mindset.
“That’s just the kind of fighter I am,” Rozicki said. “I wasn’t there to survive, I was there to win.”
The Canadian wanted at least one more round, but accepted his corner’s decision. “My corner saw something I didn’t,” he said. “In the moment I wanted another round at the least and felt I still had more to give, but the fight was stopped.”
Both fighters were taken to hospital afterward as a precaution, with Rozicki receiving a CT scan and blood work before being cleared and discharged. He later met Billam-Smith in the hotel lobby and called it “an honor” to share the ring with him.
Rozicki’s promoter Dan Otter believes his fighter’s stock rose despite the defeat. “He’s cut from a different cloth,” Otter said. “His heart, toughness and determination are second to none.”
Rozicki is now taking some rest before returning home, but once recovered, he is ready to do it all over again.
Image Credit: UFC