Challenge accepted, says Santiago Ponzinibbio.
The UFC welterweight responsed to Bryan Barberena’s recent callout on The MMA Hour. Barberena (18-8 MMA, 9-6 UFC) is fresh off a TKO win over former champion Robbie Lawler and made it clear he wants to fight Ponzi (28-6 MMA, 10-5 UFC) next.
“I found it funny with Barberena because I was working the live event and I had Barberena’s corner next to me, so when I turn around, his trainer began challenging me,” Ponzinibbio told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I told him, ‘congrats,’ and he said, ‘Hey, you’re next. You’re next.’ I said, ‘Ok, let’s do the fight.”
“I have no problem fighting Barberena. Let’s make that fight. So I kept commentating, and he was there while they were interviewing Barberena, and he kept looking at me and saying, ‘We’re going to do the fight.’ I said, ‘Ok, let’s go.’”
Both Ponzinibbio and Barberena are two of the most exciting fighters in the UFC’s welterweight division. They have a total of 10 combined Fight Night bonuses.
The Argentine very much respects Barberena’s style and strongly thinks it would be a treat for the fans.
“I like Barberena,” Ponzinibbio said. “I think he’s a very straight forward fighter, who makes good fights given his style. I think styles make fights and his style plus mine, we’d make for a good fight. I have no problem. If it was up to me, the sooner, the better. That way I can do two more fights this year. This one at the start of September and then another one at the end of December.”
