Credit:Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
Credit: Getty/UFC
The physical transformation was evident on the scales, but the
results remained the same for Alexander
Romanov at UFC on ESPN 35.
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The biggest favorite on Saturday’s card, Romanov rolled through
Chase
Sherman for a submission win 2:11 into Round 1 of their
preliminary heavyweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The more
svelte Romanov revealed that he underwent something a physical
transformation while speaking to assembled media after the
fight.
“My body has changed a lot,” Romanov said. “We a lot worked with my
coach and trainer on cardio, on our footwork. My coach made for me
a special diet. I lost around 45 pounds in the last three months. I
feel that I’m in the best shape of my career now. But we just
started this.”
The 31-year-old Moldovan wasted little time taking his opponent
down, moving to mount and unloading ground-and-pound before
securing a keylock to elicit a tap from Sherman. Romanov is now
tied for the second-longest active winning streak in the UFC
heavyweight division with five straight victories, but he claims to
have only scratched the surface of his potential.
“This was just 5 percent of our skills, what we have,” Romanov
said. “Everybody knows that I’m a good grappler, a good wrestler.
But nobody sees my striking. I promise you that one day, everybody
will see my striking. That will be incredible.”
While Romanov hasn’t faced the toughest competition the heavyweight
division has to offer as of yet, his 16-0 mark still carries with
it a certain level of mystique. That said, “King Kong” is looking
to take a step up in his next Octagon appearance.
“For me, the top 15 is very interesting because Augusto
Sakai has a very interesting style in his striking,” Romanov
said. “For me, this will be a very good challenge.”