Video: UFC 175 winner Kevin Casey had no expectations about UFC return

LAS VEGAS – It’s not often a fighter is released from the UFC, only to make it back a little more than a year later and find success.

That’s exactly what happened for Kevin Casey, though, after a failed attempt to earn a UFC contract coming off “The Ultimate Fighter 17.” Since losing his UFC debut by knockout in April 2013, Casey reeled off three-straight victories outside of the octagon.

That run of wins included a championship victory under the RFA banner, a performance that earned him a second shot with the organization in the form of a short-notice fight against “Bubba Bush” at UFC 175.

Casey (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) says he was never sure he would find his way back to the UFC, but he did it, and a 61-second finish of Bush (8-3 MMA 0-1 UFC) at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center proved he belongs.

“You never want to have an expectation,” Casey told MMAjunkie of a UFC return. “That way you don’t get disappointed if it doesn’t happen. I felt that Dana White and everyone at the UFC was very fair with me with my time on ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and so I couldn’t complain about anything. I knew I had some proving to do myself so I’m just glad I was able to perform and represent.”

For complete coverage of UFC 175, check out the UFC Events section of the site.