Originally posted by: JonnyRico
Date: November 14, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/next-for-ufc-122-fighters.32334/
Following UFC 122 win, Dennis Siver enters title contention
OBERHAUSEN, Germany – Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Dennis Siver used to be nothing more than a local fighter who helped fill out the preliminary cards of overseas events.
The UFC employs dozens of such fighters – mid-level, region-specific fighters who help the organization sell tickets and fill arenas for Europe's untelevised lineups.
But a funny thing happened with the German fighter, who picked up his latest victory at Saturday's UFC 122 event.
With the full support of Konig Pilsener Arena in the German city of Oberhausen, Siver earned co-main-event status following the last-minute cancellation of a Jorge Rivera vs. Alessio Sakara bout. And according to UFC president Dana White, Siver (17-7 MMA, 6-4 UFC) fought the part in a first-round rear-naked-choke victory over Andre Winner (11-5-1 MMA, 2-3 UFC).
"Siver got moved up to the co-main event after Alessio got sick, and he looked like a co-main-event (fighter) tonight," White said after the show. "Let me tell you what. Andre Winner looked awesome. That kid came out (and) looked fantastic – sharp punches, hard kicks. And then Siver went in there and finished him. Siver looked like a superstar tonight in his own country."
The victory, which netted Siver a $60,000 "Submission of the Night" bonus, was his sixth in his past seven fights. All but one came in the UFC.
It's a remarkable turnaround for Siver, who received his walking papers in 2008 after a meager 1-3 mark in his first UFC stint.
"After a couple of defeats, I changed my training program and started training more in jiu jitsu and wrestling," said Siver, who already boasted solid striking skills. "It's good to be right. I even won the 'Submission of the Night.' I'm very pleased with the progress that I'm making."
With wins over the likes of Paul Kelly, veteran Spencer Fisher and now "The Ultimate Fighter 9" runner-up Winner, what's next for Siver?
"(UFC matchmaker) Joe (Silva) and I were talking about who we'd like him to fight, but we're not going to talk about that right now," White said. "I'd rather hear from him and see who he wants."
So how about it, Siver?
"I'd like to fight against the fighters [whom] I was defeated by because I think I can win those fights if I were to meet them again," he said.
Under the UFC banner, that includes fighters such as Ross Pearson, Melvin Guillard and upcoming title challenger Gray Maynard.
Regardless, although the majority of of his UFC fights have come in overseas shows, don't be surprised if Siver gets prime billing on some major UFC cards in the U.S.
"The kid stepped up," White said. "He's got some big fights ahead of him."
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