Kyler Phillips: MMA Lab Bantamweights Won’t Avoid Fighting Each Other

According to Kyler Phillips, bantamweights from the MMA Lab won’t avoid fighting one another if the situation calls for it.

Phillips took on veteran Pedro Munhoz on the UFC 299 preliminary card at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday. “Matrix” put on a striking clinic to earn a unanimous decision victory, extending his winning streak to three and his promotional record to 6-1.

Phillips trains at the MMA Lab in Phoenix, which is home to a number of talented bantamweight fighters, including reigning champ Sean O’Malley. Top bantamweight contender Merab Dvalishvili had previously irked UFC CEO Dana White by refusing a title shot during the reign of good friend and Serra-Longo Fight Team training partner Aljamain Sterling. However, Phillips claims that MMA Lab bantamweights are not averse to the idea of competing against each other. Phillips also notes that with the sheer number of surging bantamweight prospects training at the gym, some of them will inevitably be on a collision course.

“Honestly there are so many people at the Lab,” Phillips said at a post-fight media scrum. “We all came. I mean I met Sean [O’Malley] when I was 18 years old. And Sean, Mario Bautista, Marcus [McGhee]. There are so many dudes coming up. We fight and train with each other every day, we’re making money and stuff. It’s not really like that. We’re gonna see each other, there’s just too many of us so I think we’re gonna clear out all the divisions, us at the Lab.”

Phillips then jokingly issued a callout to McGhee, who was in his corner on Saturday night.

“Of course, man. Like, yeah. Where’s my guy at? There he is. Hey you tryin’ to fight? Let’s do this, let’s make this money. Marcus McGhee ‘The Maniac’.”