Obviously my UFC 141 fight against Dong Hyun Kim didn’t go the way I wanted it to go. I thought it was closer than a 30-27 score though. I thought I might have stolen the first round when I took his back, but at the end of the day I knew I didn’t do enough in the whole fight and I knew he would be the one getting his hand raised.
It was weird, what my coaches and I thought would happen in the fight didn’t really happen as far as strategy goes. Kim was really good at keeping the distance and we thought he would be much more aggressive. We were hoping he would try to engage more so we could get into more clinch situations, because I felt I dominated the clinch whenever we were against the cage.
But he wanted to keep his distance, throwing the odd punches and leg kicks, basically playing a game of points unless he saw an opportunity. He would throw one punch or kick then pull back and stay out of range, which was a good strategy for him, because he had the reach advantage.
I haven’t gone back to watch the fight, so it’s hard to say where I might have done things differently. I know when he threw me, I countered it really well. I could feel the throw was coming, so I prepared for it and tried to accelerate the re-roll all the way through. I’m not 100 per cent sure but I felt as though I didn’t even land on my back and immediately ended up on top, so I was very happy with that.
On the ground, I was able to take his back and figure four around his waist, with little time on the clock I felt I wouldn’t have enough time to work for the choke. I started to work some punches and started to ride high on him and at that point I released my legs and tried to open up for an armbar. But due to time restraints in the round and our location against the cage, I didn’t have the room to work the armbar or inflict a significant amount of damage.
I thought the second round was a pretty much a throwaway round for significance except for the big kick near the end. It definitely dazed me, but it wasn’t devastating. The thing is, I actually saw it coming, because he had thrown it a couple times already, I just misjudged the distance I had. I thought I was out of his range and he just clipped me, right on the chin I believe.
I don’t think he would have finished me even if the bell hadn’t come, just my speculation of course. I don’t think I was too much out of it, my legs weren’t under me completely but I still had my senses. If he over-commits on his attack, then we start grappling, and I don’t think he’d have the opportunity to finish me.
With that being said he rung my bell a bit, but I don’t think I was close to being out. In between rounds, I remember the referee coming to me and asking if I was fine and I told him I was good so I know I was there mentally.
In third round I started out cautious to make sure my bearings were back. He started with a leg kick, which surprised me; I thought he would come hard trying to finish me knowing I had been rocked at the end of the second.
When he did finally get me to the ground, I think I played a good guard game defensively; I didn’t take any blows and kept his posture down until the standup. But once the final horn sounded, I realized I still hadn’t done enough for the win.
It was disappointing. I didn’t get off like I wanted and he was good with keeping to his strategy, so in the end I didn’t get to fight the way I wanted to show.
Las Vegas was cool though. To be honest, I realize where I fight doesn’t affect me too much in the actual fight. The buildup and aftermath are different, but the actual fight in the Octgaon is just you and one other guy.
What I found difficult was my eating, just the little things you’re used to when you’re dieting. For example, getting the proper groceries and food to put in your fridge and cook up with a microwave, and you don’t always have those accommodations in your hotel room. So you have to make small adaptations as far as eating goes.
That holds true for all fighters, it’s just something you have to get used to. On top of that, I discovered in Vegas if you want to go out to eat, even at a fast food place, every meal is going to cost you $30 no matter what you get!
I haven’t heard anything from the UFC as far as what’s next for me. The only positive I take from the whole situation is that I’ve fought three times in the UFC now, and two have made the pay-per-view while the other was on the Sportsnet prelims. So in my head that means I’ve got to be doing something right to always be put on live TV.
I’m always concerned about the chance of being released, but there’s nothing I can do. If they think I’m not a fit, then I’m not a fit. I just hopefully get another fight to prove I belong in there.
The fact is that two of my losses were to guys who are top-12 in the world. Jake Ellenberger was ranked No. 4, Kim No. 11. And Kim didn’t walk through me like Ellenberger. If he had, then it would be two quick KOs and I would feel like maybe I don’t belong there. But I took Kim the distance. I had his back in the first round, he only had the one kick in the second, so I had an opportunity to finish and he had an opportunity too and neither finished. So it was a pretty even fight in that regard.
If I had the choice, I would like to fight Kim again. But I’m never going to pick my opponents. I just want to go out there and showcase my skills. You fight on the entry-level shows and you fight one way, and then you fight in the UFC you fight differently, and I don’t think that will ever change. But I just want another chance to put on a great fight and make everyone proud of what I’ve done.
Lastly, I just want to say thanks to everyone for supporting me, including my fans, family, team and my sponsors. You’re out there doing your best and there’s always supporters and with that comes the doubters. I find it difficult that I couldn’t respond to all those who said things like, "I knew Sean wouldn’t win" or "Sean doesn’t belong in the UFC" with a victory to prove the doubters wrong.
I was in there fighting until the end. But it’s frustrating because the fight itself is the only chance to prove you do belong and when you don’t win, you miss that chance to prove it.
I just look forward to another chance to go out and prove it.