Marc Diakiese's challenge to fellow lightweight prospects: 'If you think you can beat me, call me'

LONDON – Marc Diakiese announced his arrival as a lightweight prospect to be feared with a spectacular one-punch knockout of Teemu Packalen on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 107, then issued a warning to the rest of the UFC’s lightweight prospects.

Entering the press room backstage, he joked with the media, saying: “You wanna start listening?!”

“You wanna hear something, don’t you?” he told MMAjunkie backstage. “Simple as that: I’m the best. If you think you can beat me, then call me. If you’ve not fought me, you’re not a prospect. All these prospects, you come through me and our paths will cross. But if you don’t beat me, you’re not a prospect. Simple.”

UFC Fight Night 107 took place Saturday at The O2 in London. The entire card, including Diakiese’s win over Packalen on the prelims, streamed on UFC Fight Pass.

Confident Brit Diakiese (12-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) predicted a spinning head-kick KO and landed the technique to the body of the Finn early on, but in the end it was a thumping right hand that sent Packalen (8-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) packing.

“I knew I was gonna finish him. I said first round,” Diakiese said. “The spinning kick only just missed. It was close, but it only just missed. But my right hand is always there. As soon as I did the spinning kick, I knew he would come forward because he was worried. And I knew I was gonna catch him coming in.”

Diakiese’s ebullient personality and flamboyant fighting style already has attracted a cult following in the United Kingdom. Now that he’s hit the UFC, he’s looking to build his name by taking out his fellow prospects, starting with the UFC’s European hopefuls.

“I haven’t been quiet,” he said. “But I’m ready for the Sweden card and in Scotland. Whoever they give me, I’m ready. I’m willing to step in with these guys. I’m one of the best guys going.”

However, that challenge also extended to UFC veteran and crowd-pleasing striker Paul Felder, who texted a member of the media to say he’d love to fight the Brit in an upcoming fight.

Not surprisingly, given his mood, Diakiese said he’d embrace the challenge.

“(Expletive) him. I’ll fight him,” Diakiese said. “He wants to fight me? I’ll fight him. Simple!”

For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 107, check out the UFC Events section of the site.