Baisangur Susurkaev gave matchmakers three names after UFC 328 win

Baisangur Susurkaev gave matchmakers three names after UFC 328 win

NEWARK, N.J. – Baisangur Susurkaev met the media Saturday after his win over Djorden Santos at UFC 328.

Susurkaev (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) submitted Santos (11-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) on the prelims at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Susurkaev's rear-naked choke came with just 48 seconds left in the fight.

Susurkaev has been on an absolute tear over the past nine months starting with a first-round win on DWCS to get a shot in the UFC this past August. And that shot came just four days later at UFC 319, where he submitted Eric Nolan in the first round. The win over Santos moved him to 3-0 in the UFC in a hurry, and in a middleweight division that is as hot as ever.

After his win, he said he approached UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard the day before the fight and suggested Bo Nickal, Roman Dolidze and Marvin Vettori as possible next opponents. The problem will be, he likely broke his hand in the fight and thinks he'll be sidelined till the end of the year.

Still, he wants a shot at the next tier of opponent.

"I was not nervous (if we had gone to a decision)," Susurkaev said at his post-fight news conference. "A decision is also good. I know I took all rounds, and every time I’m looking for the finish. He has a good chin and he broke my hand. First or second minute of the second round, I broke my hand and I still tried to knock him out. I punched him with this hand and this guy, this crazy warrior, has a very good chin and I needed to submit him.

"… I talked to Mick Maynard yesterday. We talked about a couple names. He said we will try something and I’m 100 percent sure I need someone top 15 or top 20."

Check out Susurkaev's post-fight interview in the video above.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Baisangur Susurkaev gave matchmakers three names after UFC 328 win