John Gunderson Says Return To UFC May Be At Featherweight Division

Nine year veteran John Gunderson will be competing in a lightweight bout against Dominique Robinson at this weekend’s Tachi Palace Fights 8 event in Lemoore, California, however Gunderson hopes to make his way back to the UFC, where he plans to fight at the 145 pound weight division in the octagon.

 


 

“I don’t want to be one of those guys that jumps on the bandwagon,” Gunderson said. “I see all these guys saying, ‘I can make 145. I’m going to 145.’ Bull[expletive]. You can’t even make 155, and you’re whining about making 155. ‘Put me back in the sauna.’ Come on, you’re not making 145. I can make 145.

“I walk around at 160 right now, so I’m real light. I have some training partners that get up to like 190 or 195 between fights. I don’t get higher than 165. I can make 145 if I wanted to. If it’s right, and if [the UFC] would have me back at 145, I’d definitely go back.”

After a loss to Yves Edwards in September 2010, Gunderson was released by the UFC as the defeat ended a three-fight run for Gunderson in the top mixed martial arts organization in which he went 1-2.

Since his release from the UFC, Gunderson has earned a submission win over Alejandro Solano Rodriguez at “Xtreme Vale Todo 5: Franca vs. Kheder” and hopes to continue the streak against Dominique Robinson at Tachi Palace Fights 8 this weekend.

Though Gunderson said he felt comfortable competing in the 155 pound weight division on the regional scene, he says he has learned, during his stint in the UFC as the size of athletes competing in the mixed martial arts top promotion, a valuable lesson.

“That’s one thing I noticed about the UFC; when it comes to weigh-in day, I’m pretty good size because I don’t really lose a bunch of weight,” Gunderson said. “But when it comes fight day and I’m standing across from the other guy, I’ve been like, ‘Holy [expletive]. There’s a big size difference here.’

“All three of my UFC fights, I was like, ‘Damn, these are big guys.” said Gunderson.

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