Justin Scoggins: 'I'm the champion of this division. There's no Demetrious Johnson'

LAS VEGAS – Justin Scoggins believes he’s the best fighter in the UFC flyweight division. He plans to prove it before the end of the year.

Scoggins (11-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) defeated fellow heavily hyped prospect Ray Borg (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 82 on Saturday. He said he wants to keep eyeballs on his career as he makes his quest to the top.

The 23-year-old was a reasonably heavy underdog against Borg in their FOX Sports 1-televised bout at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, but his performance was that of a huge favorite. He dominated all three rounds for the clear-cut win, and Scoggins said he’s ready for even better competition.

Scoggins said he wants to take on all comers at 125 pounds. Demetrious Johnson(23-2-1 MMA, 11-1-1 UFC) may currently hold the flyweight belt, but Scoggins said he’s the uncrowned champion.

“To me, I’m the champion of this division. There’s no Demetrious Johnson or anyone else,” Scoggins told MMAjunkie. “To me, Justin Scoggins is the champion, and I’m proving myself with every fight. All there is now is to get the gold belt.

“I just wanted to make a statement tonight to let them know I’m healthy, I’m ready to go, and put me right back in there. I’m not one to sit. My goal is in 2016 to be the world champion, and I’m well on my way.”

Scoggins’ mindset may be that of a championship-caliber fighter, but he still has more to prove before he gains support for a title shot, especially with Johnson’s next defense already set for UFC 197 in April against Henry Cejudo.

One thing that will help Scoggins’ case is ending his fights in more emphatic fashion. There was no dispute Scoggins got the better of Borg, but if “Tank” wants the title, he said stoppages are essential.

“I wish I got the finish,” Scoggins said. “My goal was to go out there and knock him out in the first round. That’s always my goal. Whenever I fall short of that, I know I’ve got to get back in the gym and work even harder and give the fans what they want. They want to see people get beat up quick.

“I’m piling up these unanimous-decision wins, but my goal is to go in there and finish fight. … Even though it was a dominant performance, there’s still room to grow.”

Scoggins has won his past two fights, but before that his career hit a rough patch when he lost consecutive bouts. He said he’s found the formula for success again, though, and the evidence comes in his recent performances.

If Scoggins is at his best, he said no one in the division has the tools to handle what he has to offer. After just one fight in 2015, Scoggins started this year in a positive note and said he wants to keep that momentum going with another fight as soon as possible.

“I don’t care who it is; my one goal is to be the world champion in 2016,” Scoggins said. “They can literally put me against anyone in this division, and I will fight them and beat them, and it’s going to happen this year, and I’m going to have that gold belt around my waist.”

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