Danny Roberts on Dana White, stitches and judges’ scorecards after comeback win

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Danny Roberts is ready to move on from his bruising victory over Ramazan Emeev in Las Vegas by securing a third consecutive UFC victory after sharing Instagram DMs with Dana White.

The Croydon-born welterweight hopeful ended a frustrating 712 days out of the octagon with a split-decision victory over his Russian opponent during UFC Fight Night: Ladd vs. Dumont.

Known as Hot Chocolate, the 34-year-old pushed on after an uncertain first-round to secure bragging rights and get his career back on track following almost two years of uncertainty.

Roberts has now told Daily Star Sport of his relief at finally securing his 18th MMA victory from his 23rd professional bout, and how his skull is healing following some nauseating stitches.

"It cements something for me again. I understand who I am and I've never lost a decision," Roberts said of his victory while speaking exclusively to Daily Star Sport.

"That tells me that I'm not a fighter by profession, I'm a fighter by nature. Coming through adversity and fighting through trials and tribulations you may face.

"As the rounds go on I always have a higher output and a bigger pace, so that has always prevailed, and continues to prevail for me.

"After the result on Saturday, regardless of the scoring, that proved it once more."

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Following the close encounter, Roberts admitted that he was surprised to have won the first round on two of the judges scorecards, but has now explained what the reasoning might have been.

He adds: "If you have a look at the scoring system in the unified rules, you'll see how every single element of the fight translates to getting the job done and towards you winning.

"In-between that you've got to have a certain type of skill set and land shots and getting secured in takedowns, but you've also got aggression, cage control and coming forward.

"I realised after the first round that if I let him dictate the pace, it wouldn't have ended well for me. So I had to bring the fight to him and doing that to a grappler isn't always easy."

Although Roberts has been left with a sense of vindication by his split-decision win, he has been left with gruesome scarring on the top of his skull following a vicious elbow from Emeev.

The uncensored images of the wound were shared by Dana White on Instagram following the event, with the UFC president contacting the doctor in attendance for an update.

White, who is now looking ahead to Saturday's UFC Fight Night: Costa vs. Vettori, which will be shown live on BT Sport in the UK, boasts 6.7 million followers on the platform.

Roberts said of his injury when asked if he immediately knew of the damage: "No, I felt like someone hit me on the head with something – a short blunt blow.

"The only reason I notice is when I look at my opponent and see that he's got blood on him. Then you start to wonder where it's coming from and think it must be me.

"That's the only sense you have because the adrenaline is so high, but then you feel the pain and the throbbing and the headache starts a little bit.

"Then getting the injections and stitches, that's where the pain is."

Roberts later discussed the injury directly with the big boss, having initially been signed by the president ahead of UFC Fight Night: Namajunas vs. VanZant back in December of 2015.

He said: "It was a doctor that was there (and that took the photos). He had been speaking to Dana White, after Dana saw the cut during the fight he wanted to get a video and see what it was like.

"So the doctor numbed it up and showed me that parts of my skull were exposed and it was a mess. But yeah I then went back and forth (with Dana) through Instagram DMs.

"This game is brutal and it's unrelenting and unforgiving. We put our physical selves and our livelihoods on the line every time to get the job done."

Before adding of their relationship: "There's been a few times we've spoke throughout my UFC career and he knows what I am, what I'm capable of, and what I bring to the table as a fighter.

"There's nothing by respect there. That dog of war and that tenacity is what Dana gives out contracts for – people going out and putting it all on the line in the third round.

"I'm that guy that was born that way, and I'll say again, I'm not a fighter by profession I'm a fighter by nature."

Looking forward, Roberts is feeling realistic about his chances of a sharp return to the octagon following his stitches and medical suspension, but vowed to go all out for a third consecutive victory in what would be his eight win from a 12th fight in the promotion.

He concludes: "I can train around this but it's the contact side of things that take time.

"That will be able to start next month and I like to think that I would be back before Christmas but obviously with the cut and the suspension I've got to listen to that.

"For me it's about being consistent and I want to get that hat-trick in the UFC and just do the things that I know I'm fully capable of and being at the top."

Watch two Brits in action as Mason Jones takes on David Onama and Jai Herbert faces Khama Worthy during UFC FIGHT NIGHT®: COSTA vs. VETTORI on Saturday October 23, at a prime-time slot on BT Sport 2 from 9pm. Prelims are live on UFC Fight Pass from 6pm.

• Dana White
• UFC

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