C.B. Dollaway says a rematch with Ferreira is not an option, wants Tim Kennedy in Phoenix
Jul 8, 2014, 1:05 AM | Updated: 1:13 am
Following his unanimous decision victory over Andrew Craig at UFC Fight Night 47, Cezar ‘Mutante’ Ferreira was asked which UFC middleweight he wanted to meet next inside the octagon.
Almost immediately, The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 1 winner called for a rematch with C.B. Dollaway, the man who snapped Ferreira’s three-fight win streak with a first-round knockout back at UFC Fight Night 38.
“So, my last fight, Mr. Dollaway, you just had luck,” Ferreira said during his post-fight interview. “I want a rematch with you. You can run, my friend, but you can’t hide. I stay behind you.”
Dollaway, who followed up his knockout win over Ferreira with a unanimous decision victory over Francis Carmont at UFC Fight Night 41, all but shrugged off the Brazilian’s comments. After all, he had just cracked the top 10 at 185 pounds and a fight with an unranked opponent was no way to progress his career any further.
“Of course he wants to fight me. I’m his chance to get a big-name opponent,” said Dollaway during an appearance on the Power MMA Show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “I’ve been on a good run lately and I’m starting to get those big names. I’m looking to move up the ladder and not looking in the past and fight some guy I just fought. So it’s not even an option for me.
“You always want to get one back and I understand that. But I’m obviously not going to help you move your career along. I used you to get to where I am and I’m not going to return the favor, sorry.”
So with Ferreira in his rear view mirror, Dollaway revealed he was hoping for a matchup with the number seven-ranked Tim Kennedy, who was coming off a decision victory over the brash Michael Bisping at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale. This victory gave Kennedy, who also serves as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant in the United States Army, three straight victories under the UFC banner.
“Obviously Tim Kennedy needs a fight,” said Dollaway. “I heard he wants to fight guys higher up the ladder. But eventually he’ll probably get tired of sitting and he’ll want to fight, so I’ll be here.”
Dollaway’s head coach, Aaron Simpson, chimed in and revealed they were hoping the proposed fight will take place at UFC on Fox 13, currently scheduled to be held at US Airways Center in Dollaway’s backyard of Phoenix.
“Hopefully we can get that going in December at this Phoenix card, which would be a great home venue,” said Simpson. “That’s two great names between Dollaway and Kennedy. Headlining that card with five rounds would be a blast.”
Dollaway, a former All-American wrestler out of Arizona State, would go on to reveal he would welcome a spot on the UFC’s upcoming Phoenix card as it would be a way to give back to the hometown fans who have supported him throughout his career.
“It would be awesome [to fight in Phoenix]. I’d get a lot of support from the Arizona State guys and the Arizona MMA community in general are a really a supportive group of people. So it would be awesome having them all out there cheering for me and I’d love to go put on a show for them.”
