Ignacio Bahamondes lauds champ Belal Muhammad for training expertise ahead of UFC 306 win over Manuel Torres

LAS VEGAS – Ignacio Bahamondes beat Manuel Torres with a first-round TKO Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 306 at Sphere in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Bahamondes, a training partner of welterweight champion Belal Muhammad in Chicago.

Ignacio Bahamondes def. Manuel Torres

Result: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Manuel Torres via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:02

Updated records: Bahamondes (16-5 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Torres (15-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC)

Key stats: Bahamondes got a finish for the second straight fight – and a second straight $50,000 bonus.

Bahamondes on the fight’s key moment

“My coach told me do it like we drilled that thing with Belal Muhammed so many times – him running at me, throwing wild punches, me stepping back, looking for the angle, and throwing the killer right hand or left hand, whatever side I choose. So we trained that. He knew he was going to be there, and I put all my faith in him.”

Bahamondes on his toughness

“I’m Chilean. I’m built different. All the Latinos can handle it. I’m Chilean and I’m strong. I’m faster. I’m smart, too. Whenever I’m in danger, I know how to survive, and that what Chileans do when they’re in trouble – and we always keep fighting. Never give up, get up and keep going forward.”

Bahamondes on what he wants next

“Whenever the UFC would like me to go, (I’ll be ready). They said something about January. I’m 100 percent down. I’m going to be ready. I’m going to keep training, keep getting better, and every time you see me there, you’re going to see a better (fighter).”

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

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 306.