'He smoke too much:' Mairbek Taisumov's callout of Nate Diaz, others was as great as his KO win

It’s clear Mairbek Taisumov had a lot of pent up emotions following a career-long layoff ahead of UFC Fight Night 115. From his performance to his post-fight interview, he let it all out.

Taisumov (26-5 MMA, 6-1 UFC) picked up his fifth consecutive win in the lightweight division – all by stoppage – when he put Felipe Silva (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) away in just 84 seconds at UFC Fight Night 115, which took place at Ahoy Rotterdam in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

Following his incredible one-punch finish, Taisumov put the 155-pound division on notice.

“Really happy to be back in this octagon,” Taisumov told UFC commentator Dan Hardy. “I say this before, and I’m going to tell this again: I’m here not to talk, I’m here to smash, smash anyone who steps into the octagon with me. I need top 10 (opponent). I need top 10. Anyone. These guys don’t want to fight me. I ask all top-10 fighters; nobody want to fight me. I am five finishes in a row, all knockouts, TKOs. Hey, UFC, Sean (Shelby), I think I deserve that.”

Taisumov followed that energetic statement by naming a few specific foes he would like to get his hands on next. Michael Chiesa and former champ Anthony Pettis were among those, but no callout had the zest of that directed at Nate Diaz.

“Michael Chiesa, he say if I beat someone else he wants to fight me,” Taisumov said. “But since I finish three guys in a row, he doesn’t answer anymore. Anthony Pettis, he says I’m not famous enough to fight me. (Nate) Diaz says he’s the best, Nate Diaz is the best; he says if UFC pays him $20 million he’s going to fight me in my home country, but I think he smoke too much.”

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 115, check out the UFC Events section of the site.

The Blue Corner is MMAjunkie‘s official blog and is edited by Mike Bohn.