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Steve Garcia survives two knockdowns for win, now wants Kazula Vargas or Zhu Rong

LAS VEGAS – Steve Garcia beat Charlie Ontiveros with a second-round TKO Saturday to open the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 194 in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Garcia, who got his first UFC win after a short-notice loss in his promotional debut in February 2020.

Steve Garcia vs. Charlie Ontiveros

Result: Steve Garcia def. Charlie Ontiveros via TKO (strikes) – Round 2, 1:51
Updated records: Garcia (12-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Ontiveros (11-8 MMA, 0-2 UFC)
Key stat: Although Ontiveros knocked him down twice early, Garcia outstruck him 70-15 and landed three takedowns.

Garcia on the fight's key moment

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 09: (L-R) Steve Garcia elbows Charlie Ontiveros in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 09, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

“He’s much taller. I definitely had to get a little bit bigger training partners. It was a little bit of a challenge at first. I’m coming up from (1)35 to (1)45, having to make the adjustments. … I think we pulled everything together, we did everything right, and we got the win today. That’s all that matters to me.”

Garcia on his first UFC win

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 09: (L-R) Charlie Ontiveros punches Steve Garcia in their lightweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 09, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

“It’s finally happening. You get to the UFC – the first time I got here was obviously a short-notice (fight). I got the ‘L.’ But even though I was in the UFC, I didn’t feel like a UFC fighter until you win a bout in here. I finally got that, so now I feel like I belong and I can’t wait for the future.”

Garcia on what he wants next

“Kazula Vargas and Zhu Rong – both of those seem like exciting fights. That looks like a fight I’d like to be part of. Either one of those guys would be great. They come to scrap, they’re very strong, and I think that would be a funn fight for the fans, too. Maybe we can get that going.”

To hear more from Garcia, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

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