Yanal Ashmouz worked construction gig during long layoff ahead of UFC Fight Night 242

LAS VEGAS – Yanal Ashmouz beat Trevor Peek with a unanimous decision Saturday to open up the main card at UFC Fight Night 242 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Ashmouz, who got back in the win column after the first loss of his career, which came in July 2023.

Yanal Ashmouz def. Trevor Peek

Result: Yanal Ashmouz def. Trevor Peek via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Updated records: Ashmouz (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC), Peek (9-3 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Key stats: Ashmouz had 8:16 of total control time compared to just 30 seconds for Peek.

Ashmouz on the fight’s key moment

“I didn’t get the chance to finish him, but after one year of not fighting, the performance I put on, in my opinion, it was good. I wanted to come back earlier. I tried to fight earlier, like February, even May, but it didn’t happen. It doesn’t matter now – all good … next step.”

Ashmouz on his layoff

“Work – that’s what I did (on my layoff), honestly. I just kept training. I’m working and waiting for my opportunity to fight. That’s it. I was working in the sun all day – working construction, building, and it’s very hard. It’s construction for real, like all day in the sun, just concrete, metals, everything. That’s what I do every day – and train, too.”

Ashmouz on what he wants next

“Maybe three or four months, I can come back. I want to (be back soon) because it’s my career. Time is running out, so I want to fight more. I’m not that type of guy (for callouts). Whatever they give me, I’m going to fight. I don’t care.”

To hear more from Ashmouz, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 242.