Sam Hughes glad for fast-start improvement vs. Viktoriia Dudakova at UFC Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Sam Hughes[/autotag] beat Viktoriia Dudakova with a split decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Take a look inside the fight with Hughes, who bounced back from a decision loss to Yazmin Jauregui in February.

Sam Hughes def. Viktoriia Dudakova

Result: Sam Hughes def. Viktoriia Dudakova via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)

Updated records: Hughes (9-6 MMA, 4-5 UFC), Dudakova (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC)

Key stats: Hughes stuffed seven Dudakova takedown attempts.

Hughes on the fight’s key moment

“(My coach) was on my butt the whole time. Leading up, this whole week, he was like, ‘You have to start fast. You have to start fast,’ because I’m notorious for dropping the first round and I will never do that again. I need to start fast. I need to use my cardio – it is my advantage – and still, I don’t even think I started fast enough. But faster than usual, so I’m happy for that.”

Hughes on taking it easy on herself

“Everything is starting to put together and I feel like my game is starting to form a little bit better. Overall, I think my mentality is sharper than it’s ever been. I’m way more positive, less hard on myself, less critical of everything. I’m a perfectionist at heart. I get on myself and I’m overly critical. This came, I gave myself more grace.”

Hughes on what she wants next

“I’d love to be back next week if I could. I love to fight. This is where I’m most comfortable. This is where I’m most happy. I think a couple months back in the gym, back in the weight room, and everything else. As soon as they want me, I’ll come back. I don’t have anybody in mind. Whoever they want to give me, I’m game for it. I’m always ready.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Gallery

UFC on ABC 7: Best photos from Abu Dhabi

Gallery

UFC on ABC 7: Official scorecards from Abu Dhabi

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Sam Hughes glad for fast-start improvement vs. Viktoriia Dudakova at UFC Abu Dhabi