Author: By Duane Finley

It’s been a long journey filled with ups and downs, but CB Dollaway is back, and he intends to let the world know on Saturday night at UFC on FX 7.

Following his loss at the season seven finale of The Ultimate Fighter to Amir Sadollah, “The Doberman” went on an impressive run, collecting victories in five out of six showings. With every step, the Ohio native appeared to be making solid progress as he earned two Submission of the Night bonuses along the way.

Unfortunately for the 29-year-old Dollaway, all the momentum would skid to a halt in 2011. The former Arizona State wrestling standout suffered back-to-back defeats, and following losses to Mark Munoz and Jared Hamman, an injury to his hip which required surgery would put Dollaway on the sidelines until the spring of 2012.

When he made his return to the Octagon against Jason “Mayhem” Miller at UFC 146, Dollaway battled to earn the unanimous decision victory. While it certainly wasn’t the most action-packed tilt on the card, Dollaway believes it was the necessary step in order to settle back into the Octagon and return to the win column.

“It feels good to be back and healthy,” Dollaway said. “I was coming off a hip surgery going into my last fight and things feel like they are getting back to where they should be. I had a good performance against Miller, but I think this one will be better. I’ve had a longer layoff than normal, but I think that will play to my advantage. It gave me more time to get stronger, get my size back on me, and get everything adjusted again. I’m pretty pumped to get back in there.”

The opportunity to get back into the Octagon will come under unique circumstances, as Dollaway will travel to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to face fellow TUF alum Daniel Sarafian. As a member of Team Belfort on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Sarafian made quite the impact as he battled his way to the tournament finals. In a bad turn of events, the 30-year-old would suffer an injury which would force him out of his finale bout, therefore hitting the pause button on his official Octagon debut.

When it comes to experience on the sport’s biggest stage, Dollaway will have a drastic advantage. That being said, fighting in Brazil has proven to be a difficult task for American born fighters, but rather than let the mystique get into his head, Dollaway is embracing the trip in all aspects.

“Brazil is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit, and to get the opportunity to fight in front of the Brazilian crowd should be quite the experience,” Dollaway said. “I know I’m not going to be the favorite since I am fighting a Brazilian, but they are great fans. They are big fans of mixed martial arts and I think it is going to be a good time.

“I think it is a great matchup. [Sarafian] is very well-versed on the ground. That’s my background as well. The interesting thing I believe will be the height difference. I’ve never faced a fighter as compact as he is. That will probably present some new challenges for me. I’m going to see how my wrestling works and see if I can get underneath him. It will be a different experience. I’m bringing a high-paced fight. Expect to see the old CB Dollaway, where I come right out and get after him.”

“I definitely think experience is going to be in my favor,” Dollaway added. “I remember making my UFC debut and you do have a little bit of nerves. I don’t know how big the stages he’s competed on outside the UFC are, but being a co-main event in your first UFC appearance is a big deal. He’s going to have all the pressure on him since he is the hometown guy. That is a lot of pressure. This will be my 11th UFC fight. I’m settled in and I feel like a veteran now. It’s the same old story.”

Helping prepare Dollaway for his bout in Brazil are fellow UFC veterans Ryan Bader and Aaron Simpson. The trio, along with Mike Miller of the Miami Heat, own Power MMA & Fitness, located in Gilbert, Arizona. Where the former All-American wrestler was once forced to travel all over the Phoenix area to get in the training he needs, now Dollaway barely has to leave his backyard in order to get proper preparation.  It allows him to be a constant presence in the gym, and if Dollaway is going to reach his goals, his Midwestern work ethic is going to make sure he’s putting in the hours.

 “It’s huge having everything under one roof,” Dollaway said. “I live really close to the gym, about a mile and a half away, and it is great not having to travel to get everything I need. It is a huge relief not having to fight with traffic and travel 40 minutes to get some training in. It’s all just right up the street. I spend a lot of time in there and I’m always in the gym teaching or training. I’m always there. I’m always getting better and I think it is going to pay huge dividends in this fight.

“I feel like my best years are still ahead of me. Right now, I feel like I’m starting to come into my own and develop strengths. I’m starting to feel more well-rounded, and everything is starting to make more sense to me. I understand the sport better. I’m learning how to train better and get the right kind of preparation for these fights.  I understand the science behind it now and making sure I’m as well prepared as I can possibly be.”
 

With the UFC’s plan for global expansion in full swing, it is no surprise that prospects and contenders are beginning to emerge from all corners of the world. Talented fighters are pouring into the organization looking to test themselves on the sport’s biggest proving ground, and thus far, Russia-born prospect Khabib Nurmagomedov has answered every challenge with flying colors.

In his Octagon debut against Kamal Shalarous at UFC on FX 1 in Nashville, the 24-year-old Dagestan native capped off an impressive performance by submitting the former WEC standout in the third round of their tilt. Nurmagomedov faced another tough challenge in his next outing against veteran Gleison Tibau, but much like his debut, the AKA-trained fighter stayed one step ahead of the opposition as he bested the powerful Brazilian by way of unanimous decision.

Despite his age, the move from Russia to the United States was a long time coming. After racking up 16 consecutive victories and seeing the stateside buzz begin to grow, Nurmagomedov felt a move to train and fight full-time in the United States was a necessity. Once his UFC career got off the ground, the undefeated prospect made the move to train at San Jose’s American Kickboxing Academy, where Nurmagomedov has had zero troubles settling in.

“The transition was smooth,” Nurmagomedov said. “I have been in San Jose for over a month now and I am in great shape. AKA is the best MMA club in the world and there are a lot of top fighters training here. Every sparring session and every training session I have to give 100%. I am progressing well here and AKA is a team I’ve been wanting to be part of since my childhood. It’s a family first and then a team.”

While Nurmagomedov continues to progress his skills as a mixed martial artist, he will do so on the strength of a solid grappling background. “The Eagle” has garnered acclaim for his accomplishments in Sambo, winning the Russian championship, and then claiming a grappling world championship in the coveted NAGA tournament in 2012.

The success he’s experienced is a validation for the talent he possesses, but Nurmagomedov has remained humble throughout.

“All of my achievements in the sport are possible because of God,” he said. “I thank him every day for my father, who has trained me all of my life and made me the man I am today.”

Saturday night, Nurmagomedov will take his 18-fight win streak into Sao Paulo, Brazil to face Thiago Tavares at UFC on FX 7. The Brazilian is a 12-time UFC veteran with three of those performances earning Fight of the Night honors. The bout between the two lightweights is an interesting matchup on several levels, as both are accomplished grapplers who have shown a willingness to stand and trade.

Another potential factor affecting the fight is the difficulty of fighting a Brazil-born fighter in front of a passionate home country fan base. Nurmagomedov isn’t concerned about the experience of his opponent or the environment in which the fight takes place. He is simply ready to fight.

“I respect all of the fighters, no matter who it is,” Nurmagomedov said. “Everyone trains daily with a goal of becoming a UFC lightweight champion. I am well prepared for this fight and if he wants to keep it on the feet he will get a good fight. [Experience] does not matter to me. Every fight you learn something new and whoever is ready physically and mentally will win the fight.

“Maybe my opponent thinks that I may be under pressure since I am fighting in his homeland. If it mattered to me I would have not taken the fight. I know it will be God’s will whether I win or lose.”

The bout with Tavares will mark his third showing in the UFC’s lightweight division. Over the past three years, the 155-pound weight class has become one of the most competitive in the organization, with a shark tank of talent fighting for divisional position. While Nurmagomedov acknowledges the fact he is new to the picture, it doesn’t stop him from looking to climb the ladder in the quickest route possible…and he’s naming names.

“There is always talk of who is a better fighter and which style is better,” Nurmagomedov said about the lightweight division. “There are a lot of fighters with different styles and I just focus on training hard for the fight and show results. God willing, I win this fight and then I want to fight Nate Diaz next in San Jose on April 20th. First I need to beat Tavares.”

When the Octagon door closes this weekend in Brazil, Nurmagomedov will not only be looking to take the next step of his career, but make a statement in the process as well. With the talent he possesses, the sky is the limit, and with the UFC’s continued push to take their show to every major market in the world, Nurmagomedov could potentially one day be stepping into the cage and looking out at his own countrymen.

“MMA is becoming very popular in Russia and especially UFC,” he said. “I am pretty sure the UFC could get large crowds north of 20,000 people if they hold an event in Russia, Dagestan in particular.”

In a world filled with conflict, Tim Kennedy finds his way better than most.

The Army Ranger turned mixed martial artist has been one of Strikeforce’s top middleweights since debuting for the organization in 2010. Over those two years, the 33-year-old has put on a collection of impressive performances. His only two setbacks under the Strikeforce banner have come when Kennedy reached the top of the ladder, only to be denied in his championship bids.

Never one to be detoured by adversity, Kennedy is ready to get things back on track. He will have the perfect opportunity to do so when he faces rising prospect Trevor Smith this Saturday in Oklahoma City.  While Smith may not carry the name recognition that Kennedy brings to the table, the war veteran isn’t overlooking his opposition, and is excited for the fight.

“[Smith] is dangerous,” Kennedy said. “You want to talk about underrated or under appreciated. Trevor is a hard-hitting, fantastic wrestler, who is really gritty and super tough. He has power in both hands. I’ve trained with him before and he is a very talented athlete.

“Stylistically it is a tough fight for me. He is taller and longer so maybe he wants to sprawl and brawl, and stay on the outside. It is a tough fight. I’m excited about it because I like challenges. One thing I do know about him is that he is going to want to step into the center of the cage and tussle. That makes me happy.

“Fans are going to see a fight,” Kennedy added. “Trevor and I complement each other stylistically because we are both going to show up to fight. He’s not going to come in there to outpoint me and I’m not going in there to try and wrestle this guy or lay on top of him for 15 minutes. I’m going to fight him. I’m going to try to knock him out or submit him. People can expect a fight. We are going to get in there and throw down.”

With the event this weekend in Oklahoma City, the doors will officially close on the Strikeforce promotion. The San Jose based organization has been recognized for years as the best promotion outside of the UFC in mixed martial arts, and inside their cage, Kennedy’s stock as a fighter has risen.  

That being said, the past year has been a frustrating experience for the fighters on the roster. With events few and far between, and two complete cancellations, the competitors under contract with the organization have been forced to sit on the sidelines and watch the situation play out. Now that the end of the road has been set in stone, Kennedy has mixed emotions about the situation.

 “I have five fights with Strikeforce,” Kennedy said. “I’ve fought for their title twice, and while I came up pathetically short, it is a bittersweet feeling. I’d hate to say it was great seeing it come to an end. I like to think I’ve been one of their marquee guys. When PRIDE closed, people originally said it was a good thing, but then the same people say they miss it. I miss PRIDE and I never even fought for them. It’s the same way I miss the WEC. It is bittersweet. I’m excited for the next chapter of my MMA career but it’s also kind of sad.”

Once the books are closed at Strikeforce: Marquardt vs. Saffiediene, the transition towards the next chapter of his fighting career will begin. Along with champion Luke Rockhold and former champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Kennedy is expected to make an impact in the UFC middleweight division.  

For years the Strikeforce fighters have battled for respect in MMA, and while it is something his peers may get caught up in, the quest for validation isn’t something Kennedy concerns himself with.

 “I’ve never fought for recognition,” Kennedy said. “Yeah it sucks when fans say since I’ve never fought for the UFC I’m horses**t. That’s not really great but I don’t care. I don’t have enough ego to care what journalists or even fans say about my fighting career. I fight because I like fighting.

“When I learned how to crawl I was trying to attack my brother’s ankle. When I learned how to walk I was beating the crap out of my sister. Then I turned 15 and I was fighting in the In-and-Out parking lot. Then I turned 17 and I was fighting in the fields and riverbeds of California. When I turned 24 I was fighting in the streets of Iraq and by 27 it was Afghanistan. Now I’m going to care about fighting because somebody says I’m not good enough because I don’t fight for a particular organization? I don’t care. I fight because I like fighting.”
 

The middleweight division continues to become increasingly competitive. Over the past two years, while Anderson Silva’s reign atop the 185-pounders has endured, the race to fill out the weight class’s upper tier has ignited into a firestorm.

A handful of the world’s best fighters have set their sights on earning a shot at “The Spider’s” throne, yet while other top 185 pound fighters have fallen into the surging trend of call-outs and trash-talking, Tim Boetsch let his fists do the talking. It is a course of action which may have cost “The Barbarian” in raising his profile in the minds of the UFC’s fan base, but he has every intention of continuing to make ground. The wrestling standout from Maine intends to continue his climb the only way he knows how, and while he may be overlooked in the bigger picture, Boetsch is determined to show and prove.

“All my opponents seem to look past me,” Boetsch said. “That has sort of been the formula, but I’m okay with that. If they feel like I’m a walk in the park I’ll let them be surprised when that cage door closes and it’s time to actually work things out.

“It is kind of funny how everyone is jumping on the train and trying to talk themselves into fights when perhaps they haven’t earned it yet. But I think I’m doing things differently. I’m getting in there and I’m beating lots of top level guys. I think my resume speaks for itself. I don’t want to get involved in the whole thing of talking and picking fights. I’m just going to beat people up and I’m going to earn that title shot.

“I’m kind of confused how I can be so easily forgotten, but there is going to come a day when I’ve beaten enough guys that it is going to be very hard to ignore me. If I keep taking out top guys, how can my argument be denied?”

Following a highlight reel come from behind victory over Yushin Okami UFC 144, Boetsch upped the ante on his title bid by collecting a win over Hector Lombard. He spoiled the longtime international star’s organizational debut, snapping Lombard’s 25 fight unbeaten streak in the process. The victory over the Cuban-born powerhouse boosted Boetsch’s position in the divisional rankings and set up a potential number one contender’s bout against Chris Weidman.

While the showdown between two of the division’s best was originally slated for UFC 155, the surging prospect turned contender suffered an injury and was forced to withdraw from the bout. Rather than remove Boetsch from the card, the UFC tapped another fighter building momentum in the division, Costa Philippou. A win over the Ray Longo product will not carry the same amount of clout a victory over Weidman would have produced, but Boetsch is a game fighter prepared for whomever the UFC places in front of him.

“I was pretty bummed out, honestly,” Boetsch said about the Weidman cancellation. “I was really looking forward to the fight with Weidman because it would have really established who the number one contender is. That being said, I also feel for Chris. He’s had a rough year. He had issues with his home due to Hurricane Sandy and trying to get his house fixed. Now he has an injury and a major recovery to deal with. I wish him all the best and hope he has a very speedy recovery.

“I was very happy the UFC got a replacement relatively quickly. They obviously came up with a very tough opponent, and Costa has been on a tear lately. I expect it to be a tough fight. He’s showed some very good hands and definitely has stopping power in them. He knows how to throw combinations well. It is not an easy fight by any means and I definitely have my work cut out for me. I’m very happy he’s going to be in there and was willing to take the fight.

“I don’t want to ever be one of those fighters who complains about opponents or turns down fights because it is not the right opponent for me. I think this fight against Costa speaks volumes of what type of fighter I am. I’m a sports entertainer. My job is to fight and perform for the fans. That means I need to fight whoever the UFC tells me. If they tell me I’m fighting Costa Philippou – guess what? That is who I am fighting, and on fight night I’m going to show up and give it my best.”

The bout features two fighters with proven finishing ability. Where both men carry heavy hands, Philippou’s boxing skills and Boetsch’s wrestling talents are most likely to wage the battle which decides the fight, and ultimately, it is a fight Boetsch cannot afford to lose.

Despite being undefeated in the middleweight division since deciding to drop down from light heavyweight at the end of 2010, Boetsch understands his overlooked profile doesn’t afford him some of the same luxuries enjoyed by his peers. The Maine native believes it will only be a matter of time. As long as he keeps putting on impressive performances which land him in the win column, the path to the top of the division will become clear.

 “People will figure it out pretty soon,” Boetsch said. “Every fight is huge to stay in the title hunt and I know this especially rings true for me. I’m sort of the forgotten contender, and if I happen to lose, that certainly is a massive strike against me. I feel like maybe some of the other guys out there could get away with a loss and it could be chalked up as a bad day. I can’t have a bad day. I need to be perfect. I have to make sure I keep this win streak alive. I’m currently undefeated at middleweight and I’m looking to keep it that way.

“I’m bringing fireworks and I believe we are going to bring in the New Year very explosively. I’m looking to prove a point that I am the number one contender.”

It has been a difficult year for the UFC, as some of the organization’s biggest matchups have fallen victim to the injury bug. That being said, the sport’s most prominent promotion is looking to end the year with a bang, as one of the most anticipated rematches in recent years will go down at UFC 155 when champion Junior dos Santos looks to defend the title he took from Cain Velasquez.

The two heavyweight juggernauts will throw down on December 29th in Las Vegas, in a fight which will determine who is officially the “baddest man on the planet”.  

When the two men initially squared-off at UFC on FOX 1, the former ASU wrestling standout was coming off a shoulder injury which had sidelined him for over a year.  It only took “Cigano” 64 seconds in their first meeting to crumble the AKA-trained fighter with a monstrous right hand, and Velasquez has his sights set on regaining championship gold.

With the heavyweight showdown looming, UFC.com caught up with former two-time heavyweight champion Frank Mir to get his thoughts on the upcoming title fight.

“JDS is a very elusive striker and has the best footwork in the heavyweight division,” Mir said. “He uses his speed and maneuverability very well. It has helped him become the champion and I believe he has the potential to be the champion for quite some time. I think he has a phenomenal jab and his footwork enables him to land punches and stay off the cage. It allows him to keep the fight where he is the strongest.

“I think Cain Velasquez has a great work ethic and is a very well rounded mixed martial artist. I think his striking has come a long way. He’s an excellent grappler but he’s not as elusive as dos Santos. He’s going to have to be more diligent in moving forward. He’s going to have to create angles, cut off the cage, and try to corner JDS in order to create more of close range fight.

“I think in a close range boxing match, Velasquez could do very well, but in a long range striking or boxing match, JDS will have the advantage striking wise. If that were to be the case, Velasquez is going to have to utilize his kicks, which I believe dos Santos is very susceptible to.”

Many in the MMA world believe for Velasquez to be successful, he will have to find a way to put the champion on his back. This is a situation Mir is familiar with, as he faced the Brazilian in May at UFC 146. Despite his best efforts, Mir was unable to put Dos Santos on the canvas and was forced to engage in the standup game, where few have been able to survive against the current title holder.

“Dos Santos is very difficult to take down,” Mir said. “He is obviously one of the best in the world right now in the boxing realm and wants to keep the fight standing. It isn’t so much that he is anti-wrestling, because he is good at avoiding the shots, but we’ve also seen him in the clinch and be able to nullify some wrestling there well. But I think one of the strongest attributes in his skill set is the ability to avoid being in a position where shots can be taken on him.

“In their first fight, Cain did shoot on him for a second, but the shot came from far away and JDS was able to defend it because of the distance between them. If Velasquez is able to work himself in a little closer in this fight, I think he could find some success with his wrestling. It’s just really hard to get close to JDS because of the power he has in his hands.

“I think this fight works out differently than the first,” Mir added. “Obviously predicting a quick knockout over someone of Velasquez’s caliber would be very foolhardy. I think the first time, dos Santos caught him and we are talking about heavyweights, where those things happen. But as far is it being something JDS could repeatedly do to Velasquez over and over again, I would be hard pressed to say you could legitimately argue that. I think JDS could still catch him, but he’s going to have to work harder for it in this second fight.”

When Scott Jorgensen’s name is on the card, an action-packed fight is guaranteed to follow. The former three-time Pac 10 wrestling champion turned mixed martial artist has built a solid reputation as a fighter to watch every time he steps into the cage.  Working behind a fast-paced attack and put away power in his hands, Jorgensen rose to become one of the bantamweight division’s top fighters.

Unfortunately for the former Boise State standout, his last two outings have yielded difficult results. After dropping a decision to current interim champion Renan Barao, Jorgensen was eager to bounce back into the win column when he faced Eddie Wineland at UFC on FX 3 in June.  In the fight with the Indiana native, Jorgensen failed to find his rhythm, and suffered a second round knockout in the process.

The loss sent Jorgensen back to the drawing board and with re-ignited determination. He is looking to re-emerge from his training as a better version of himself and, when he steps into the Octagon against John Albert at UFC on FOX 5 in Seattle on December 8, get the win in exciting fashion.

“Right now John is just another opponent,” Jorgensen said. “I’m stepping into that cage, and for the first time in my career, I’m coming off two losses. There is definitely a little bit of disappointment there over my last two performances, but it has been a learning process. I’m changing some things up and evolving my game. I’ve been fighting professionally since 2006 and never changed anything.

“Now I’m opening things up, evolving, and taking a look at the entire sport. It used to be the ‘let’s go hard’ and force everything mentality, but I’m changing things up.  It’s been a good training camp. I’m very excited for this fight. I’m not sure where I’m at on the card but I’m going in there to put on an exciting fight.”

While Jorgensen’s skill set continues to progress, his ability to excite a crowd on fight night has never been a concern. He is a three-time Fight of the Night recipient (UFC and WEC) and believes his style is custom-made to entertain. That being said, he is fully aware his hard-charging style has created problems for him in the past, and the 30-year-old is focused to shore up the holes to get back into the win column.

“Going back to my wrestling days I’ve always had exciting wrestling matches,” Jorgensen said. “I’m willing to take risks where others may be more on the cautious side. I fight to have fun but there is definitely more there. I love the competition, the ability to train, do what I want, and live a life I like that provides for my family. I really do enjoy fighting and me being able to enjoy that doesn’t mean going out there and lying on a guy or dancing around to avoid everything. I fight to fight.

“I want to get in there and hit you with my best shot. I want to see if I can take some of yours and I’m going to come out on top. My approach to my last couple fights has been ‘You are going to hit me and I’m going to hit you as hard as I can. Let’s see what happens.’ I have a little bit more of a game plan that I’m going to follow this time around. I’m going out there to put on an exciting fight. This sport is about growing as a fighter, a brand, and helping the UFC grow into the biggest sport in the world. No one wants to watch boring fights.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned along the way as I can’t go into a fight thinking I’m going to force things. That is what I’ve done in my last few fights. As soon as I start getting hit I begin to get more emotionally involved in the fight. I have to stay calm, not let my emotions take over, and allow my pride to step in. Once my pride kicks in then we are in a fight. You can hit me as hard as you want. We are going to stand there and trade and I’m going to win this.”

After making a career based on a “throwing caution to the wind” style, Jorgensen is learning to adjust and adapt. The past two outings haven’t gone his way, but the process has yielded lessons Jorgensen feels will elevate his game from this point forward.  The former number one contender is looking to put his hard work on display in Seattle, and he plans on bringing the fight directly to Albert’s doorstep.

“After so many fights, you learn that a game plan is a game plan for a reason,” Jorgensen said. “When I was winning we were sticking to game plans. I normally don’t watch tape but we actually did that for this fight. My entire team of guys sat down, took notes, and put together a plan. My approach has changed and it’s a big part of my evolution as a fighter.

“As far as progressing from a wrestler to a mixed martial artist, the biggest thing that has slowed me down is the fact that I learned how to strike somewhere along the way. It’s like a new shiny toy at Christmas. You are not going to play with your old toys. You are going to go out there and use the new things you have.

“I’m also 5’4 fighting guys who are taller than me and I can’t be giving up that much reach and think I can just go out there and box. I have to utilize the other tools in MMA.”

While Jorgensen has found a way to put his power on the chin of his opposition, the re-discovery of his wrestling pedigree has been a valuable part of the evolution process. Since his time in the WEC, Jorgensen has been one of the weight class’s most tenacious grapplers. Getting back to the roots which provided his initial success, in addition to the new tools discovered along the way, have “Young Guns” eager to hit the Octagon in Seattle.

“My last few fights may not have reflected it, but I know for a fact I’m one of the best wrestlers in the division,” Jorgensen said. “It’s just a matter of when I choose to use it and what I’m using it for. If I’m using it to take you down or keep you there or if I’m using it to set up my hands and land another big punch; there is a difference there. It comes down to the choices you have to make.

“I have to remember where I came from and keep it that way. This is MMA. It’s not just taking your opponent down and hitting him with punches and elbows. It’s about keeping them guessing. I have the ability to dictate where the fight occurs. Whether it is against the cage, on the ground, standing up, on the ceiling, whatever – I dictate it.”

With a new approach and focused on the fight ahead, Jorgensen’s sights are set on Albert. He is confident the TUF alum will not bring anything to the table the veteran hasn’t experienced before, and he has every intention to leave the Octagon victorious.

In the process of doing so, fans will be treated to an exciting fight with action that touches every inch of the canvas. It is this brand of non-stop, full-throttle attack which has made Jorgensen a favorite amongst MMA enthusiasts, and he has no plans to disappoint on December 8th.

“My fans know exactly what to expect,” Jorgensen said. “They know I’m going in there to get after it. I’m not going to hesitate or wait around. I’m going to step in there throwing punches and kicks. I’m going after takedowns and I’m going to keep going and going. I’m coming in to hit him and cut him. I’m going to hurt him and beat the hell out of this guy.

“I have a great fan base behind me and they are very appreciative of the way I fight. Every time I compete I make more fans so I’m doing something right. Whether I win or lose inside that cage, I am making more fans because I’m not afraid to get in there and fight. If I hold back I lose. I’m going in there to put on a show and I think I do that very well.”