Nathaniel Wood Eyeing The UFC Top-10 And Believes Cody Garbrandt Is The King Pin

UFC Fight Night 131 goes down in Utica, New York this Friday evening and in the second fight of the night the former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion Nathaniel Wood will be making his UFC debut.

“The Prospect” got the call up to the UFC earlier this year after defending his Cage Warriors title for the second time at CW 92: ‘Super Saturday’ against Italian Luca Iovine.

The Englishman has never been shy about setting himself goals and on Friday he will tick another one of the list when he steps inside the UFC Octagon for the first time. Making his way to the UFC was always going to be a big moment for the 24-year-old but according to him it’s only the start. The Londoner believes that he’s going to be making a quick run up the UFC’s 135-pounds rankings and speaking to MMANytt.com last week he said he expects to be making inroads on the top-10 very quickly.

“Everything has worked out as it supposed to and I’m looking to be in the top-10 next year,” Wood said. “If the UFC want to stick me in with anyone in the top-10 after this fight then count me in. Then I’ll be chasing that belt so anyone I’ve got to fight to get me closer to that fight is where I want to be.”

Sights on the Top-10

Whilst some fighters prefer to get several bouts under their belt before taking on the ranked fighters, Wood says he isn’t afraid taking on anyone in the division. According to him, all the fighters in the UFC are just as dangerous given the talent level so in his mind he thinks he might as well just face the best right away.

“For me I’d happily get in there tomorrow” Wood said about fighting top-10 competition. “I don’t say that out of arrogance or anything, just purely confidence. When you’re in the UFC every fight is a tough fight and anything that can happen.

“When you put a 4-oz. glove on with a guy who is ranked 30th in the UFC, then you’re still in for a tough fight. So put me in with a guy that is ranked #1 then there is a higher risk, but also a higher reward. I think I can be in there with anyone and win.”

Cody the Kingpin

The current champion at 135-pounds TJ Dillashaw defeated Cody Garbrandt for the title last Nov. at Madison Square Garden, New York at UFC 217. Despite Dillashaw being the man holding the belt, Wood believes that Garbrandt is still the kingpin of the division.

“Dillashaw has the belt, so you can say him, but I think that Cody is the better fighter,” Wood said. “I think he will win that rematch and for me he’s the main guy and a guy I really like. It’s just a shame that he’s the guy that I’ve got to chase to get the belt if he wins against TJ.”

Can you be in a “Prospect” in the UFC?

Wood’s nickname “The Prospect” was given to him by his father earlier on in his career. Despite now making moves on the world scene, Wood says he has no intention of changing it in the near future, although he did lay out one situation where he thinks he will have to reconsider it.

“It’s got to stay for now,” Wood said. “When I win that belt we might have to say ‘you know what?’ and I might have to change it. But for now I’m going to stick with it.”

Done in one

With four wins and four TKO/KO wins in a row, Wood believes that nothing will be changing on Friday night. Despite Eduardo’s big experience advantage, Wood is confident that he’s going to be making it five in a row and that Eduardo will become the fourth straight man to be looking up at the lights inside the first round.

“I’m going to be the same fighter that I’ve been for my last four fights and I’m going in there to do exactly the same,” Wood said. “This time next year I’m going to be chasing the title shot, but for this fight I think I’m going to put Jonny Eduardo out in the first round.”

Watch the full interview: