LAS VEGAS – In the tabloid format, Marquel Mederos emerged victorious in his UFC debut by defeating Landon Quinones through a unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 235. The event took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s delve into the details of the fight with Mederos, who secured his spot in the UFC after impressing in Dana White’s Contender Series.
MarQuel Mederos
Outcome: MarQuel Mederos emerged triumphant against Landon Quinones with a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Updated records: Mederos now holds a professional MMA record of 9-1, with a UFC record of 1-0. On the other hand, Quinones’ record stands at 7-3-1 in MMA, with a winless UFC record of 0-2.
Key statistics: Despite Quinones outperforming Mederos in striking, landing a takedown, and successfully defending against all five of Mederos’ takedown attempts, it was Mederos who secured the victory by claiming the second and third rounds according to all three judges.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 03: (L-R) Landon Quinones throws a punch at MarQuel Mederos during their lightweight fight at the UFC Fight Night event held at UFC APEX on February 03, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
In an interview, Mederos commented on his opponent, stating, “He’s a tough fighter, but he tends to talk a lot. In all of his interviews, he boasts about how he will walk me down and beat me down. So, I knew what I was up against. My fighting style is more focused on finesse. Although I felt nervous in the first round, I made adjustments in the second and third rounds and executed our game plan.”
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 03: (R-L) MarQuel Mederos lands a punch on Landon Quinones during their lightweight fight at the UFC Fight Night event held at UFC APEX on February 03, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Expressing his desire for future fights, Mederos exclaimed, “I crave the energy of a live crowd. Put me in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Let me have a fight at T-Mobile. I don’t care where it is, just not back at the Apex. When I have an audience, that’s when I truly shine.”
MarQuel Mederos
Reflecting on his busy schedule, Mederos stated, “This was my sixth fight in the span of 11 months, so I plan to take a short break after this one and focus on training. Winning always brings an incredible feeling. It’s like chasing a high, like a drug. I don’t want to push myself too hard. I estimate taking a break for about four or five months. I don’t intend to take an entire year off, but I do want to spend some time reviewing my fights and analyzing film.”
To listen to more insights from Mederos, watch the full post-fight interview video above.