Undefeated Hull lightweight George Staines has set his sights on UFC gold after earning a contract with a 61-second victory over Loai Abushaar on Dana White’s Contender Series in Las Vegas last month. The 26-year-old, who fights out of the Next Gen gym in Liverpool, is now part of MMA’s leading promotion but prefers to unwind by watching sci-fi and fantasy rather than fight footage.
Quiet celebrations and Lego builds
Asked how he celebrated his UFC deal, Staines said: “I’m a very quiet person. I’m very open about it, but I just like building Lego, I like watching anime.”
“People find it weird, but I don’t watch MMA. I enjoy studying tapes of my opponents, but I won’t watch MMA unless I’m with friends and they’re watching it. Even then I am like, ‘Do we have to watch it?’ I’d much prefer to watch One Piece or Star Wars or build some Lego or read a manga. I enjoy that complete separation from MMA. I am in the gym for four hours training and then two hours afterwards chatting absolute rubbish, because we are all good friends.”
He added: “After that I don’t want to come home and watch MMA or jiu-jitsu videos. I want to watch sci-fi or fantasy or do cool things such as gaming. I might start my own Twitch stream or Lego livestream.”
Death Star gift and title ambitions
Staines revealed his manager gave him the Death Star Lego set as a gift for reaching the UFC, and he is considering a review. He also mentioned wanting the Millennium Falcon set but needs more room, noting that “Lego just takes up so much space.”
On DWCS, Staines was cornered by gym-mates and now fellow UFC stars Paddy Pimblett and Luke Riley. Pimblett, known as ‘The Baddy’, is already among the elite of the 155lb division, with a rumoured No.1 contender’s fight against ex-champ Ilia Topuria pencilled in for January.
Staines hopes to make his debut sooner but is determined to force his way to the lightweight crown, adding: “I know where I want to be, but I am not sure how I am going to get there… well, I do know – I am just going to win all my fights. I will be the UFC champion.”
“After Paddy wins that belt, I will win that belt. Though not straight after! I used to be very focused on the end goal. Now I have learnt to enjoy the path you are on and live life, and I think that’s made me a better fighter.”
