Edmonton heavyweight scores decisive knockout
Judges jump from seats as heavyweight KOS ranked opponent on Las Vegas card
If you’re going to knock somebody unconscious, it’s best to do it well and make it worth your while.
Tanner Boser nailed it on both fronts this past weekend with his first round, highlight reel destruction of Philipe Lins on UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas.
On a big stage, against a ranked opponent, the Edmonton (via Bonnyville) heavyweight needed just 2:41 to pound the Brazilian into a sudden and dramatic canvas nap.
“I’m extremely happy with the result. That was the bestcase scenario,” said Boser, back home after a 16-hour travel day from Nevada. “I didn’t take any damage and I got a first-round knockout over a really good opponent, too. I’m happy with the way I performed.”
Decisive finishes are what move the needle in mixed martial arts, so this was a showcase victory on all fronts. With the
UFC being one of the few sports that’s up and running right now, there were a lot of eyes on Saturday’s card, and the people who watched certainly want to see Boser fight again.
“It’s definitely a signature win for me,” said the 28-year-old, who improved to mid 30s in most world MMA rankings. “It’s a nice jump. It’s definitely a win that had a lot of upside in terms of climbing the ladder.”
The fight didn’t last long, but it was vicious. Once Lins was in trouble, Boser made sure to finish him off with a six-punch flurry that even had the TV announcers jumping out of their seats.
“When the overhand right landed behind his ear, he kind of stumbled a little bit,” said Boser. “Sometimes a guy just stumbles or slips, but I saw his eyes and I knew he was hurt, that something was wrong. So I swarmed him with that combination.”
Boser said it was like being on autopilot.
“It was like looking through a pin hole. You have complete tunnel vision at that point. I let my body take over and do what it’s conditioned to do and I landed all those strikes.
“Honestly, I knew he was out after my last right hand, but I wanted a performance of the night bonus, so I smashed him with that hammer fist while he was on the ground.”
Lins never felt the last blow, and Boser didn’t get one of the $50,000 performance bonuses, but he definitely made a statement. He also found that coming in at 235 pounds (about 10 pounds lighter than where he normally fights) suits him well.
The leaner, stronger frame was less by design and more the product of having to train alone during a pandemic, but he likes the way it feels.
“You couldn’t be around other people and the gyms are closed, so I had to train by myself, doing a lot of strength and conditioning on my own. My coach would text me a workout to do every day, and early on, I was doing three hours of strength and conditioning workouts. It paid off in a weird way. I’m in the best shape of my life.”
Fighting at 235 or 240 pounds might not always be ideal in a weight division that tops out at 265, but increased speed and cardio can be valuable weapons against heavier guys who gas out quickly.
“I’m probably going to stay just below 240. I felt good. Not only am I faster and my cardio is off the hook, but I’m also stronger than I ever have been. I did a lot more weights. I believe this is the best version of me, the best weight for me to perform in a way that serves my fighting style.”
The plan now is to ride the momentum from the Lins KO into something even bigger. Boser has no immediate plans, but could be on a collision course with 6-foot-7, 255-pound Maurice Greene, who sits in the high 20s or low 30s in most rankings.
“I called out Maurice Greene and he seemed to accept it. He’s a big dude. You have to be careful with a guy who’s 6-foot-7. He’s got the range and he uses the jab reasonably well and he knows how to win. It’s not as easy fight, but I think I have the parts to beat him, for sure.
“If that doesn’t happen, I’ll fight whoever else. It doesn’t matter. I don’t think I’m getting a top-15 guy next, I think I need one more win before that becomes discussed, but like usual, I’ll fight whoever I’m asked to fight.
“You can’t tic-tac-toe your way to the top. Guys try to do that and end up sitting out too long. I need to fight frequently and get my paycheques, so I’ll accept any fight. That’s just how I am. I’ve always been that way and I’m not going to start changing it now.”
You couldn’t be around other people and the gyms are closed, so I had to train by myself ...