Written by NEW YORK – David Onama beat Roberto Romero with a unanimous decision Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Take a look inside the fight with Onama, who fought Romero on a few days’ notice when Lucas Almeida pulled out
David Onama def. Roberto Romero
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; David Onama (red gloves) reacts after defeating Roberto Romero (blue gloves) in the lightweight bout during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Result: David Onama def. Roberto Romero via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Onama (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC), Romero (8-4-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Key stats: Onama won the striking battle 145-79 and had nearly a full round of control time as a 25-1 betting favorite.
Onama on the fight’s key moment
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; David Onama (red gloves) fights Roberto Romero (blue gloves) in the lightweight bout during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
“I knew the kid’s going to come to fight, so when he (clipped me in the first round), I was like, I need to recover, get him back in the second round – which I did. But things happen and I need to still (react) – I knew he was going to come out to fight – in New York City, MSG … like, who wouldn’t come out and perform like that?”
Onama on the ultra short-notice replacement
Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; David Onama (red gloves) fights Roberto Romero (blue gloves) in the lightweight bout during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
“Honestly, it didn’t matter who they put in front of me (on a few days’ notice). I was prepared throughout my whole fight camp, so I was ready. I was ready for this week. It didn’t matter who they put in front of me. I knew my manager was going to find me somebody and I just had to stay ready. When they offered me him, I knew he was going to bring it. He’s a (UFC) debut guy – I know he was going to. I knew who was going to be hungry, so I wasn’t surprised. He came in like he was ready for this. I knew he was going to come out and put a put up a good fight, which he did. I wasn’t surprised at all.”
Onama on what he wants next
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 15: (L-R) Lucas Almeida of Brazil punches Timmy Cuamba in a featherweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 15, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
“I still want that fight (with Lucas Almeida after he pulled out). I want that fight in the future. Hopefully February or March – I still want it. (I was) all prepared. Everything I did (in camp) was for him. I feel like I went and got dropped today (against Romero). I want (Almeida) back. He did this. He’s the one that caused all this, so I want him back. They called me and said he was. He was injured. I didn’t talk too much about it. I pulled out of a fight before because of my injuries, so I didn’t want to talk too much about that, whatever he had going on. I don’t want to speak about it. (I hope for a) fast recovery for him and his team, but I want that fight back.”
To hear more from Onama, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.
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David Onama def. Roberto Romero at UFC 309: Best photos
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UFC 309: Official scorecards from New York