LAS VEGAS – Felipe Colares beat Luke Sanders with a unanimous decision Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 23 in Las Vegas.
Take a look inside the fight with Colares, who rallied from a tough first round to take the second and third for the win.
Colares on the fight’s key moment
“I don’t like my fights going to decision. I like finishes and KOs. But the UFC is another level. These guys are the best in the world. … I need to thank my opponent. He was the reason to wake up and train hard for two months of preparation.”
He just CARRIED him across the Octagon 🤯 #UFCVegas25 pic.twitter.com/WACKGhQ90U
— UFC (@ufc) May 1, 2021
Colares on fighting for his mother
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 01: (R-L) Felipe Colares of Brazil kicks Luke Sanders in a featherweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on May 01, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
“I was losing the fight, and then I thought about my mother and that I needed to win. I needed to win because I want to help her. I was fighting with my heart and needed to win. Today, I am the winner and I need to hug my mother and say, ‘I love you. I will help you with your treatment.’ Thank you to the UFC for changing my life.”
Colares on what he wants next
“The best gift for my mother is the win. Today, I’m the winner for my mother.”
To hear more from Colares, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.