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James Krause says he actually benefitted from stepping in on 24 hours’ notice a UFC 247.
James Krause may have taken a loss at UFC 247, but he also had a lot to gain. Currently competing at the welterweight division, the 33-year-old TUF 15 alum decided to step in on 24 hours’ notice and jump up a weight class to fight Trevin Giles.
Krause lost the fight via split decision, but took home a $50,000 bonus for Fight of the Night honors. And looking at it from a business standpoint, he feels he made a smart move.
“It wasn’t a big deal to me either way,” Krause told MMA Junkie on Monday. “If I got it, I got it. If I didn’t, I didn’t. I just said, ‘Hey, I’ll fight him.’ For me, it was more of a business play. It was a good opportunity for me to make some more money and redo my contract.”
UFC president Dana White said he spoke to Krause after the fight about how it must be a regrettable decision to step in on such a short notice and be beaten. Krause, on the other hand, said he will not hesitate to do it again if given the opportunity.
“(Dana) told me that after the fight. He pulled me in his back room and told me the same thing,” Krause recalled. “I said, ‘No, you’re wrong. I’d do it again.’ I don’t regret it at all. I’d do it over again. I think that’s a fight that I won. I think that’s a fight I should’ve won. I think it’s a fight I can win if we do it again.
“… I feel like it was a good career move on my part, overall. Once again, I’d do it all over again given the chance. And hell, who knows? I may do it again. I could’ve made welterweight on damn near the same notice.”
Prior to his loss to Giles on Saturday, Krause was on a six-fight win streak.