Matt Serra

By FCF Staff

Matt Serra won’t get to throw down at Madison Square Garden, but the retired, former champ believes experiencing it with his fighters might be even better.

Just last week the New York State Assembly voted to sanction pro MMA in the jurisdiction, and as a result, the UFC is expected to hold an event in NYC before the year is out. Recently the 41 year-old Serra spoke to UFC.com, and while doing so, the Long Island native said this:

“I’m really close with my guys,” Serra said. “They’re not just my students. I consider them my friends, and I’m overjoyed to be a part of it. I’m not going to be making that walk for myself, but I’ll be making that walk with them and that might even be better. I’ll still be a part of it and that’s something I’m looking forward to.

“I’m very excited for that. They’ll be fighting in Madison Square Garden eventually. That’s amazing. It will be something special and it almost feels surreal right now.”

Serra’s last fight took place in 2010, when he was decisioned by Chris Lytle at UFC 119. Some of the fighters Serra helps train include Chris Weidman, Aljamain Sterling, and Al Iaquinta among others.