Modestas Bukauskas ended 2022 on a high after re-capturing the Cage Warriors light heavyweight title for the second time in his career on New Year’s Eve.
Bukasukas vacated the light heavyweight crown to join the UFC in 2020. However, just two years later, he would return to Cage Warriors after an unfortunate stint inside the UFC, dropping three back-to-back fights to Jimmy Crute, Michał Oleksiejczuk, and Khaili Rountree.
After being sidelined due to a nasty injury, Bukauskas returned to the win column with a unanimous decision victory over Lee Chadwick at Cage Warriors 145 in November. Only one month later, at Cage Warriors 148, the Lithuanian born punched his ticket into Cage Warriors history by stopping Chuck Campbell in the fourth round of their light heavyweight title clash.
Modestas Bukauskas Reflects on Winning Cage Warriors Gold
While building his way back to an opportunity with the UFC, Bukauskas revealed winning the Cage Warriors title was something he had set out on his vision board:
“I feel absolutely amazing. My next step on my vision board was to become the champion. It was the goal that I intended when I joined with Cage Warriors, and it’s nice as well to go down in history with Dan Hardy and Nicolas Dalby as the only other two guys to vacate and then win the belt again, I believe. So, yeah, it feels absolutely amazing. Just as planned.” Bukauskas told James Lynch at Combat Sports UK.
Despite being confident leading into the fight, Bukasukas did give Campbell his props for the tough test he brought on the night and voiced what motivated him to overcome the risky fight.
“I was extremely confident. The main thing that really pushed me in this fight was the fact that I knew I’m supposed to be way better than this guy, so I need to go out and show it. Obviously, credit to Chuck. He’s a very formidable opponent. You know, he’s got knockout power, so I couldn’t exactly just go rushing in with a guy like that. I couldn’t even think even in my head to let it sink in that there was even a chance of me losing. I had to go in there and prove myself, and that’s the mentality I had going into that fight.”
Bukauskas Has His Sights Set on UFC Return
The 28-year-old still has strong aspirations in returning to the UFC to give an accurate representation of what he’s capable of, even if that means taking a short-notice fight on the other side of the world.
“I know that if there’s ever a spot that opens up, I know that I should be the first guy on the list there. That’s what’s been hinted to me. I don’t think there’s anything set in stone as of right now. I’m ready for whatever comes next. I’ve said it before, and I said it straight after the fight. I do believe I’m UFC-ready. I have been before. I didn’t really pull the trigger. I didn’t express myself like I should have done. I feel like I’m on the right track to doing so, and I’m definitely going to do the right things in terms of my training. I know what I need to do, I know I’m UFC-ready, so whenever they want to call me, I’m ready to go.”
If the UFC’s not next for Bukasukas, he’s more than happy to defend his light heavyweight title to do whatever’s necessary to return to the pinnacle of the sport.
“Whatever the future holds for me, I’ll be ready for. I do believe I’m UFC-ready, but if I do have to defend my belt one more time, you know, it is what it is. At the end of the day, it’s more experience in the cage and more time in there, but I know the ultimate end goal, and the thing that will happen is I’ll be back there. It’s just a matter of when.”
Bukasukas aims to return to competition in March but has nothing in the pipeline at the moment, but is already back in the gym training.
Interview With Modestas Bukauskas
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
