Tim Means attacking Bernardo Magalhaes (right) (photo via UFC.com)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Since exiting from the UFC last summer, Tim Means has done his best to distance himself from the defeats that led to his release, as the noted finisher has collected two stoppage wins while competing for Legacy FC. Not only that, but Means has done so while competing at welterweight, and the 6’2 tall fighter’s days as at 155 pounds appear to be over as a result.

“The idea was to put weight on for the Artenas Young fight because I had a good amount of time to prepare,” Means recently relayed on Full Contact Fighter Radio, while discussing his move up to 170. “I wound up getting strep throat and it was kind of a burden just to eat enough. I don’t know if you’ve ever had strep throat, it’s like swallowing glass, even with water. I was much lighter going into the fight then I wanted to be, but I was feeling really good about two weeks out from that fight until I got that sickness out of my system.”

Means went on to stop Young in the first round at Legacy FC 27 on January 31st, to follow up on the knockout win he scored over Pete Spratt in September.

“Now I try to eat 5,000, 5,500 calories a day, plus lifting, plus strength and conditioning circuits, just trying to put on some size overall,” Means furthered. “I’m not really a big guy, I’m tall, but I’m kind of a thinner guy but I have good power in my hands and in my strikes. So I’m kind of interested to see where the weight lifting goes. It was something I never really had interest in, weightlifting, because I was always having to cut down to such a small weight. It’s been a cool journey.”

Means

While Means doesn’t see himself as a “big guy”, the cut to lightweight had presented him challenges in the past, particularly when he fought Danny Castillo on short notice at UFC on FOX 8. The 30 year-old fighter was unable to make 155 for the July 27th bout (it was contested at 160), and Castillo proceeded to hand Means a unanimous decision defeat.

“It was a super rough weight cut for myself; I was kind of fighting fumes the entire fight,” said Means, while discussing the loss to Castillo. “He still couldn’t get me out of the fight, so that says a lot about his tenacity and where he is as a fighter. Wanting to win on points. So, I’m happy to move up to 170. I feel way stronger, I feel much more crisp, and there’s a lot of cool fights at that weight.”

“He really fought like a coward,” Means stated moments earlier, after also conceding he had assured the UFC he’d be able to make weight, despite the short notice. “He laid and prayed and didn’t do nothing with the position. He just hung on for dear life. If the UFC wants to see guys like that fight, and pay them 60 grand to see them win those fights, that’s on them.”

And how does Means believe fighting at 170 will impact his takedown defense and grappling game?

“At 170 I feel good,” said Means, who expects to challenge for Legacy FC’s welterweight title in the coming months. “I feel good at scrambling. For some reason my defense is just better, my go to positions.”

Legacy FC’s next event is scheduled for March 21st in Tulsa, Oklahoma.