UFC Vegas 51: Drakkar Klose takes shot at old coach, Mark Madsen after winning comeback fight (Video)
Tensions with former coach leads to Drakkar Klose calling out Mark Madsen following his comeback victory at UFC Vegas 51
Drakkar Klose made a statement — both inside and outside the Octagon — in his first fight back in a little over two years at UFC Vegas 51.
It was his first fight since getting knocked out by Beneil Dariush at UFC 248 and his first win since defeating Christos Giagos at UFC 241.
Klose thoroughly dominated Brandon Jenkins in the opening round of their prelim fight, landing multiple hard shots despite Jenkins continuing to fight on. Eventually, Klose did score the finish 33 seconds into the second frame.
“I was like ‘Damn! Why won’t this m*****f**** fall?” Klose said with a laugh in his post-fight interview. “He’s tough. He took some big shots and he stayed in there. All praise to him for stepping up and fighting me.”
Drakkar Klose follows victory after a two-year layoff by calling out Mark Madsen, says he doesn’t like Madsen’s coach
This was also Klose’s first fight since leaving Fight Ready MMA and re-joining The MMA Lab.
After the win, Klose called out Mark Madsen, who now trains at Fight Ready and defeated Vinc Pichel at UFC 273 last week.
He also targeted his old coach, Eddie Cha, and there appears to be some unknown kind of bad blood.
“I don’t like his coach. He’s a piece of s***,” Klose said. “He used to be my coach, and I just don’t like him. He’s a scumbag. Any of his guys I want to fight.
“If they want, we can line up all their coaches against my coaches and have a big Royal Rumble that night.”
During his time away from the Octagon, Klose’s most infamous came a year ago, when he was shoved at the weigh-ins in the lead up to a planned bout with Jeremy Stephens. Klose reportedly suffered a spinal injury from the shove, and Klose says he’s been feeling the effects ever since.
“My neck’s never going to be the same,” Klose said. “But what can I do about it? Do therapy and do as much as I can.”
“It’s very frustrating. I know what I sign up for. Whatever happened at weigh-ins I wasn’t expecting. If I was in a fight, I’d be ready for it.”
But for now, Klose is just going to use the frustration of the shove — and all the missed time — to motivate him in the Octagon and have a strong path back.
“I want that belt,” Klose said. “I can’t fight forever. I have to make a name for myself. Just keep lining these dudes up and I’ll keep beating them.”
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