UFC Fight Night 108 winner Stevie Ray mum on scoring debacle, wants to headline Glaskow event

NASHVILLE – It wasn’t easy, but Stevie Ray ultimately walked away victorious from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 108 bout with veteran Joe Lauzon.

Ray (21-6 MMA, 5-1 UFC) had to overcome a terrible first round, which drew 10-8 scores for Lauzon (27-13 MMA, 14-10 UFC) from two of the judges for the come-from-behind majority decision win. While Ray’s mid-fight resurgence was undeniable, there were questions about the scoring – especially when one of the judges awarded Ray with a 10-8 win in the last round but only a 10-9 score to Lauzon in the opening frame (via Twitter).

We’ll have to wait a bit for Ray’s thoughts on the scoring debacle. Speaking to reporters backstage right after the scrap, Ray clarified that he would have to go back in order to make any definitive judgments, but that he knew he’d have to step up after a tough opening frame.

“I remember that he won the first round, and I had to come out in the second and pucker up a bit,” Ray said after the FS1-televised main card lightweight scrap at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. “And then the third round, the same again, I just put it all on the line. That was my job in there, just put it all on the line, and then it’s obviously down to the judges.”

Asked if he was surprised with any aspect, Ray said he was maybe expecting more durability out of Lauzon.

“I felt that maybe he wouldn’t tire as quickly, and I’d still be taking some shots in the second and the third,” Ray said. “Maybe he gassed himself out in the first trying to finish me. But if he’d done his studying, he should know that I’m a warrior, as well.

“I’ve been in some tough fights, and there’s not anything that’s going to put me out of there.”

In hindsight, Ray thinks he may have just gone a little bit overboard with the “putting it all on the line” thing.

“I need to go back and watch it, but I was maybe just throwing everything with too much power,” Ray said. “Maybe I should have picked my shots more, a little bit more tactical. Especially the first, I was just … I had a thought in my head – let’s just put it all on the line here, throw leather and see who’s still standing at the end of it.

“The game plan was to try and box, let my hands go and not kick so much. I feel like defensive striking is his weakness. He just kind of brings his hands up, leaves his body open. I didn’t really target his body as much as I’d like to. But, again, it’s a learning experience. Win or lose, I’m going to learn from this.”

Two wins removed from his sole octagon loss, Ray has officially reclaimed some momentum. Now, after finally making his U.S. debut, the 27-year-old Scotsman is ready to move forward – preferably, as he’d previously told MMAjunkie, in home soil.

Ray would like to be in the UFC’s return to Glasgow, likely to be UFC Fight Night 113, set for July 16 at SSE Hydro arena. And he’ll gladly take any spot available. But, while he won’t push for it, he does think the headliner makes sense.

“I think I’m a little under the radar at the moment,” Ray said. “I’m 5-1 in the UFC, and I’ve already co-main-evented a UFC (Fight Night 99). I took it on short notice, against Ross Pearson in Belfast. So if I can co-main a fight in Belfast, then why not main event in Scotland? I’m the most popular fighter in Scotland.

“Even before the UFC, I’m quite a popular guy. I used to sell out all the local shows, as well, and I know that as soon as I’m on that card, and tickets are on sale, it’s going to sell out straight away.”

To hear from Ray, check out the video above.

And for complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 108, check out the UFC Events section of the site.