DWCS 61 winner Serhiy Sidey: Ramon Taveras would've taken more damage if not for referee

LAS VEGAS – Regardless of the controversial stoppage, Serhiy Sidey had no doubt he was going to finish Ramon Taveras.

Sidey (10-1) stopped Taveras (8-2) by TKO in the first round Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 61 – a stoppage that was immediately disputed by Taveras. Sidey dropped Taveras and followed with ground-and-pound, but referee Kevin MacDonald quickly waived the fight off at the 2:26 mark before Taveras got a chance to defend himself.

UFC president Dana White called it “one of the worst ref stoppages” he’s ever seen and announced that Taveras will get another shot on DWCS in Week 10. A proven finisher, Sidey says a stoppage is all he envisioned.

“Honestly, I visualized this. I visualized the finished,” Sidey told reporters during the DWCS 61 post-fight news conference. “I had a lot of different ways this was going to happen. It was a step back two, so that was a cool finish. But yeah, I visualized this. I knew it was going to happen. This feels like my destiny.”

Despite the controversy, Sidey earned a UFC contract for his quick finish. He admits the referee’s error took some shine away but vowed it would have only gotten worse for Taveras if he let him continue.

“One hundred percent, but I did my job,” Sidey said. “I did my job. I did exactly what I was supposed to do. If the ref didn’t stop that fight, that guy would have taken more damage. I guarantee you he would have taken more damage.

“Even if he got up, he wouldn’t be as confident anymore on the feet because he just got dropped hard. So, it could have gone further, but I knew I was going to get that finish regardless. So, it is what it is.”

With the rise of Mike Malott and Jasmine Jasudavicius, Sidey is another new Canadian face on the UFC roster. He hopes to make his promotional debut on the next card in Canada.

“My dream ever since I started this journey was to fight in front of the Canadian crowd,” Sidey said. “So, if the UFC wants to come to Toronto, they want to come to Canada, come on put me in there. I will have so many fans and so many supporters there and, yeah, that would be a dream come true.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 61.