THACKERVILLE, Okla. – Norbert Novenyi didn’t hate his first trip to the United States, but he wasn’t in love with how he performed in the cage.

He must have pretty high standards for himself. Novenyi (4-0 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) on Friday submitted Will Lavine (1-2 MMA, 0-2 BMMA) in the second round to open the main card at Bellator 218.

“I was super sick, actually, less than two weeks ago – I couldn’t leave my bed,” Novenyi told MMA Junkie after the fight. “This week, I was quite ill. During the first, I was getting gassed. I was supposed to and I expected myself to get a finish in the first round. It went to the second, and I’m just not happy about that.

“But at the end of the day, it just shows even when I’m dying in the cage, I can get it done.”

Bellator 218 took place Friday at WinStar World Casino & Resort in Thackerville, Okla. The main card aired on Paramount and streamed on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Novenyi wasn’t even supposed to be on the main card. It took two fights falling off to get him there, and he delivered.

“There’s a reason, I’m 100 percent sure, the universe wanted me to fight on the main card, not just the prelim,” he said. “I know for a fact I’m going to get some (expletive) for not finishing in the first round. But I know I performed well. Everyone who thinks otherwise can suck my you-know-what.”

Check out the full interview with Novenyi in the video above, and don’t miss highlights of his win below.

[jwplayer IK6cG67X-RbnemIYZ].

And for complete coverage of Bellator 218, check out the MMA Events section of the site.