Author: By E. Spencer Kyte

Max Hiler isn’t your typical 12-year-old.

As a student, he’s in the gifted and talented program at school, bringing home straight As on his report card. He loves science, and is fascinated by Stephen Hawking, the renowned British theoretical physicist who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

He’s on the swim team at school, and played one year of football before declaring, “You know, that was fun, but I’m not doing that again.” He also likes martial arts, having started taking aikido not too long ago.

Outside of the classroom and sports, Max is kind and generous. This past Christmas, after seeing a Toys for Tots commercial on television, he brought all his video games to the local GameStop, sold them, and then donated the money to the local Toys for Tots campaign.

“He said that he thinks that’s the worst thing there could be: for a kid to wake up and not have any presents on Christmas,” said his mom, Michelle Hiler.

On Easter Sunday of this year, Max had a headache.

He’d had them before, off and on over the last few months, but never anything too bad. He’d been to see his family practitioner in the past, but there were no signs that there was anything to be worried about.

As the day wore on, Max’s headache turned into a migraine, so his mom decided to take him to the emergency room, hoping to get a shot to help the pain subside.

“They did a CAT scan when we were there, and within hours we were at a Children’s Hospital in San Antonio having emergency surgery on his brain to install the shunt — a ventriculoperitoneal shunt or VP shunt,” explained Ms. Hiler.

Doctors discovered Max has what is known as a pineal teratoma, a rare tumor that develops in the pineal region of the brain, just above the brain stem.

“It’s a very rare form of tumor,” explained Max’s dad, Sean Hiler. “In the City of San Antonio, there probably isn’t another person who has had it. In the United States, there are probably only about 175 people who have that same condition, and in the world, there’s probably only about 3,500.”

The non-cancerous tumor is caused by the continued growth of stem cells during gestation.

“It’s just something he’s born with,” continued Mr. Hiler. “Certain stem cells that were supposed to shut off didn’t shut off, so they start growing. They’re just cells that don’t get the message to shut off, and because it’s not cancerous, it doesn’t respond to radiation or chemotherapy.”

Max is scheduled to have surgery on at Christus Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital in San Antonio, Texas on Monday.

On Friday, Max had an unexpected visitor, as interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit made the trip to San Antonio to spend the afternoon with this incredible 12-year-old boy who truly embodies what it means to be a fighter.

“For today, to have Mr. Condit just call us and say, `Hey, I’m on my way. I’d like to meet Max’ was amazing,” said Ms. Hiler. “To have somebody just drop what they’re doing — their whole schedule for the day — and take a flight out to meet somebody they’ve never met before, it really meant a lot. And I know it did to Max too.”

“(Carlos Condit) is a great ambassador for the sport,” added Sean Hiler, choking back tears. “Everything he does… he’s just an amazing individual. He’s just an incredibly… incredibly kind and generous man.

“I sent an email to him thinking that maybe he’d send an autographed picture or maybe a card or something; I never actually expected that he would come here. I was driving back from Houston, and my wife sent me a text saying `Carlos Condit is on his way to the house.’ I just about wrecked my truck I was so shocked by it.

“Everything has happened so fast, and for Carlos to see that need, and to have that compassion to just drop everything, and come see Max… I can’t even put it into words.”

As it turns out, Max and the former WEC welterweight champion have a lot in common, spending the afternoon hanging out on the couch, talking about their mutual affinity for science documentaries, martial arts, and dogs. Condit was also made an honorary knight in The Royal Council of Bald Men.

“Max had to have his head shaved for the surgery, so he has this club that he’s started called The Royal Council of Bald Men,” explained Sean Hiler. “All the guys in the family and a lot of our friends have all shaved our heads in solidarity, and Max has this little foam sword, and he knights us all, accepting us into The Order. We’ve got a picture of him knighting Carlos and giving him an honorary membership into The Royal Council of Bald Men.”

“We received a letter from his dad, just telling us his situation,” Condit said Friday on his way back from San Antonio. “There was the option to send him a video or send him a shirt or something, but I decided to go out and visit him, and it was great.

“I feel like I’ve been blessed to do what I do for a living, and if I can act — it was great visiting Max and his family, and I’m glad I went.”

“I think it was kind of surreal for (Max) to have this person coming into his house that he’s heard his dad talk about, and seen on TV,” said Ms. Hiler. “I think it was just kind of surreal for him. He enjoyed it — he really enjoyed Carlos, and talking to him about dogs, and science, and the universe.”

“It was just amazing listening to he and Max talk to each other,” said Sean Hiler. “Just how much they had in common — things that they enjoyed, and similarities with things that Max likes. He brought his belt, and Max got to take his picture holding his belt around his waist.

“I posted on Facebook that the UFC belt that he has is bigger and heavier than you can imagine; you pick that thing up, and it is so heavy,” chuckled Mr. Hiler. “But the belt that Carlos deserves for just being such a great human being… is too big for most men to be able to lift, and he wears it easily.”

Though he’s been feeling better since having the shunt installed on Easter Sunday, Max has to head back to the hospital on Monday for a lengthy surgery, where the doctors hope to be able to excise the tumor if possible.

“Their plan is to just go in and do a biopsy just to see what the tumor is for sure,” explained Mr. Hiler, “but the neurosurgeon, Dr. Mancuso, said that she believes it is probably a teratoma.

“(Max has) named his tumor Voldemort,” he continued. For the scant few who might have missed out on the entire Harry Potter phenomenon, Lord Voldemort is the arch-enemy of the young wizard with the lightning bolt scar on his forehead. “He’s scared, but he wants to get it over with; he wants to kill Voldemort.”

“He told me (Thursday) that he can’t wait for Monday to get here, and that he’s terrified that Monday will get here,” recalled Ms. Hiler. “He wants to get it over with and be done with it, but at the same time, he’s afraid. I told him, `That’s okay. I’m afraid too.’”

Despite the severity of his condition, Max’s parents say the bright, young future astronomer has maintained a positive outlook, his curiosity focused on the incredible amount of support and attention he’s received over the last month.

“He’s a little taken aback by all of the attention that he’s getting, more so than he has any fear of the upcoming surgery,” offered Ms. Hiler. “He doesn’t feel sorry for himself. The other day he said, `Why am I getting so much attention? Aren’t there other sick kids in the world too?’ He just doesn’t see himself as a special. He doesn’t understand why he’s getting so much attention, and other kids may not be getting so much attention.”

That’s what makes you so special, Max.

Keep fighting!

Here’s a video of Max from Friday, put together by his science teacher (and favorite teacher), “Coach” Jimmy Bryant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr92_DiVbu4&feature=colike

For more information on Max, please visit: http://maxhiler.chipin.com/max-hiler-fund

Former Ultimate Fighter finalist Michael Johnson is focused on moving up the lightweight rankings in 2012. If everything goes as planned, he’ll end the year on the cusp of being a contender.

The 25-year-old St. Louis native, who has been a part of “The Blackzilians” for the last year, set his sights on a productive and successful year after suffering a first-round submission loss to British leg lock expert Paul Sass back in October. Frustrated with his performance, Johnson sought the silver lining in his loss.

“Sometimes losing can be good,” he admitted prior to his first fight of 2012, a difficult matchup with former All-American wrestler Shane Roller. “The majority of times they’re horrible, but it’s good to have it happen early, as opposed to later on in my career. This way I actually have time to work on it, get better, and not get caught in it again.

“I went back to the drawing board, spent a lot of time with my jiu-jitsu coach and the many black belts we have in our gym down here, and we work on it every day. Next time I do see something like that, I’ll know exactly what to do, and not just sit there and think about it.”

That work on the mats paid off.

While he wasn’t forced to fight his way out of any leg locks, Johnson’s calm when caught in a submission hold was put to the test. Closing the distance to start the third, Johnson was forced to play defense as Roller got inside, took him down, and took his back early in the final round. Three months after he panicked against Sass, Johnson had his chance to redeem himself.

“Just don’t get finished,” Johnson says, chasing his recollection of what was running through his head that night in Chicago with a chuckle. “That was a huge thing — we trained that position a lot coming up to that fight, and I could hear my jiu-jitsu coach in my head, playing out every movement I had to do. I think it’s real important to stay calm in those situations because once you panic, you do something wrong, and then the fight’s over.

“I don’t want to be the guy that looks back at a fight like, ‘That’s what I was supposed to do! I knew I needed to do that, but I didn’t do it.’ At that point it would have been too late, so I really focused on staying calm, working myself out of the position, and it worked out for the best.”

Despite spending a healthy portion of the final round fending off Roller’s attempts to finish him, Johnson’s output in the opening two frames earned him a unanimous decision win, setting “The Year of the Menace” off right.

“I didn’t get finished, I came away with a victory, and on to the next fight.” That next fight is a short notice opportunity against “El Cucuy,” Tony Ferguson.

One season after Johnson’s runner-up performance on The Ultimate Fighter, Ferguson blasted his way through the competition, knocking out Ramsey Nijem in the finals to become a member of the exclusive fraternity of Ultimate Fighter winners. He’s put up another two wins since, steadily moving his way up the 155-pound division’s depth chart.

“I feel real good about this fight,” says Johnson, who steps in for an injured Thiago Tavares, who in turn had replaced veteran Dennis Hallman. “Before I got the call, I was kind of getting a feeling like for some reason I was getting ready to fight; it was weird. He has been on a roll, and he’s one of the guys that I’ve been wanting to fight lately just for that matter. I want the guys in this division that are on a streak, and are looking to prove something just like myself.”

Generally speaking, taking a fight on just over a month’s notice is a challenge, one that becomes a little more difficult when the man standing across from you in the cage sports a 14-2 record and has won seven consecutive contests.

But the man known as “The Menace” didn’t hesitate to become Ferguson’s third scheduled opponent for this fight. Like a boy scout, this Blackzilian is always prepared to answer the call.

“To me, there’s really no such thing as a short notice fight just because I’m always in shape. I’m always ready to get a call from (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva. If they need help, I’m always here willing to help those guys, and fill that spot.

“We’ve got guys fighting every month, so in order for me to help those guys, and do as much as I can for them, I have to be in shape. It’s not always about just one person on this team — these guys depend on me, and I depend on them. We’re all trying to help each other succeed in this business. It’s a huge benefit for me to always be ready to fight, and be in a position where I can take a fight on short notice, and be able to fight no problem.”

One of the youngest members of “The Blackzilians,” the camaraderie and shared focus on being successful as a unit has made a serious impact on Johnson over the last year, both in terms of his skills and his outlook. Working daily with the collection of talented coaches and established stars assembled in South Florida, Johnson sees what he can achieve — how good he can become — next to him on the mats every day, and is focused on using each fight as a chance to get one step closer to reaching his goals.

“Everything has changed completely,” offers Johnson, the genuine appreciation he feels for his fighting family permeating his words. “I think we’ve got the best coaches in the world, plus I’m surrounded by current champions, former champions, and future champions too, and it’s just so beneficial for me. Everything has improved and changed, and I think people are going to start noticing that in these next couple of fights.

“I look around the gym, and I see guys doing big things, and I just want to be a part of that, and follow in those guys’ footsteps. I look at Rashad (Evans), and Jorge Santiago, and JZ (Cavalcante), and all the other top names in our gym, and I think I’m a lil’ pup in the game, but I’m working my way up. Having those guys around me, and training me, and gaining experience from them means a lot.”

On the first Saturday in May at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Johnson is intent on putting the lessons he’s learned to good use against Ferguson, who he thinks might be looking past him a little as he prepares for this fight.

“I’m kind of sensing that he might be underestimating me a little bit. His last two opponents he fought were Aaron Riley and Yves Edwards — two UFC veterans — and he beat them. He might be sitting on his high horse a little bit; that’s what I’m hoping. I want to be the guy to come in and knock him off of that.

“He won his season, I got second on my season, so in some people’s eyes, they might see him as better than me, or taking a step back fighting me, but it’s the perfect opportunity for me. It’s right where I need to be.”

Like every fighter, Johnson has championship ambitions, but he knows the journey to the top of the lightweight division is an incremental process; each win leading to a bigger name, a bigger fight, and a bigger opportunity, until finally there is only one man left to defeat.

“I’ve never worked harder, and I’m going to keep that intensity in the gym, and finish this year off strong. I’ve got a good win over Shane Roller under my belt, but with big wins come big competition. I want to be close to the Top 10 when this year is over, and Tony Ferguson is just another guy in the way of me getting to my goal.

“I was playing this through my head the other day, and it’s like a video game — like Mortal Kombat: you’ve got to get through these little guys to get up to the top level, and that’s exactly how I’m playing it out right now. This is a huge year for me, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come.”

“The Menace” is ready to take that next step. Or is that Lord Raiden?

Every fighter who steps in to the Octagon envisions the day when he has his hand raised in victory as UFC President Dana White wraps a championship belt around his waist.

In that regard, John Dodson is no different from anyone else. He too hopes to be standing in the center of the cage, fans cheering as Bruce Buffer announces his name as a UFC champion.

And then he wants to do it all over again in a different division — twice.

The man with the Colgate smile and infectious exuberance has set his sights on being the first man to ever hold UFC gold in three different weight classes —flyweight, bantamweight, and featherweight.

What’s more is that the 27-year-old veteran wants to collection those championship belts in order, which is why after becoming member of the fraternity of Ultimate Fighter winners last season as a bantamweight, Dodson returns for his post-TUF debut in the newly formed flyweight division.

“I have a goal set in my mind, and I want to make sure that I can hold all three titles at once,” explains Dodson, who squares off with newcomer Tim Elliott on the preliminary portion of the UFC on FOX 3 fight card on May 5th. “I need to get 125 first because I want to have them all in order: 125, 135, and 145.”

Dodson knows he’s going to face an abundance of questions about setting his sights on capturing three titles before winning he’s had a chance to build off his December knockout victory over highly touted T.J. Dillashaw.

Still to this day, a story can’t be written about veteran Brandon Vera without mentioning the San Diego native’s bold prediction that he was going to be the first man to hold the heavyweight and light heavyweight titles simultaneously, a feat “The Truth” never came close to accomplishing.

While some may press Dodson to set the bar a little lower for himself, that’s not how the 13-5 Team Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter is programmed.

“I’m putting it as high as I can. I’m going to aim for the stars.”

As Dodson sees it, the UFC allowed lightweight champion BJ Penn to step up and challenge Georges St-Pierre for the welterweight title without having to vacate his title. If the organization was willing to entertain the idea of “The Prodigy” reigning as champion of two divisions separated by 15 pounds, Dodson feels his desire to compete in three weight classes spaced 20 pounds apart shouldn’t be an issue. He also sees it as a way to ensure he gets to fight as often as possible.

“I want to make sure that I can hold all of them and defend all of them at the same time. If I can take one, I want to be able to carry them all on my shoulder, and I want to be able to defend them whenever the time comes. Plus, what that means is that I’ll get more fights throughout the year. If I defend (one of the three titles) once every two months, that means I’m guaranteed to fight six times a year.”

This weekend’s event serves as the departure point for Dodson as he embarks on his ambitious journey. While he admits that being left out of the inaugural foursome selected to fight for the freshly minted UFC flyweight championship stung a little, he understand why that group of combatants were chosen. Instead of dwelling on his disappointment, Dodson uses his exclusion from the four-man tournament as motivation, and plans to leave no doubt that he deserving of the opportunities that will eventually come his way.

“The four that were picked were there for a reason. They have two of the best guys from the UFC that can make the weight, and they also brought in the two guys that were the best in the division.

“I was a little hurt and offended that I wasn’t a part of it because I was the one running my mouth off as best as I could on The Ultimate Fighter about bringing in flyweights, but my brother said it best for me; he said, `John, don’t worry about it. All they’re doing is letting somebody else hold the belt and warm it up for you so that you really want it.’

“I want to prove my worth,” continues Dodson. “I don’t want people to sit there and say, `John got this handed to him.’ I want to prove it. They can throw anybody they want in my way, and I’ll just go ahead and do the best that I can to eliminate everybody in the process. If that means I’ve got to fight the guys that were in the tournament, up-and-comers, whoever’s still standing, (so be it).”

First up is Elliott, a late replacement for Darren Uyenoyama with no previous UFC experience. While facing a newcomer tends to heighten expectations for a more well-known fighter like Dodson, the man with the trademark creepy cackle knows he’s in for a serious challenge, whether the fans think so or not.

“He fought Jens Pulver, and then he fought Josh Rave,” Dodson says, reciting his opponent’s two most recent victories. “He’s on an eight-fight win streak, and it doesn’t really matter to me (that he’s a newcomer that people don’t really know). He’s coming out hard, and he’s willing to fight. Most people don’t really know too much about 125’ers as it is, and this is a good chance for them to find out that we are talented; not just in the UFC, but other organizations as well.”

Just because the division as a whole isn’t as recognizable as its heavier counterparts doesn’t mean Dodson has been suffering through a shortage of training partners in preparation for this fight.

While this may be just the fourth flyweight fight in UFC history, Dodson competed in the 125-pound weight division for the majority of his career prior to joining the cast of The Ultimate Fighter as a bantamweight, and he’s been training with ‘25s throughout his career, as well as a having at least one slightly heavier colleague putting him through the paces this time around.

“We have guys that are 125 at my camp; we’ve all grown up together, and we’re making sure that we’re fighting at 125,” explains Dodson. “That’s the weight class we’ve all aspired to compete in. As soon as the UFC — and there were other promotions like Tachi Palace Fights before that — started allowing us to shine a lot more, and stop fighting at a higher weight, we started doing it.

“I have guys at my weight class that are helping me prepare for this. I don’t have to worry about the speed or the technique being a problem against me; I have all that with me already. I also have the heavier weights as well — the ‘35s and ‘45s — plus Donald Cerrone’s been kicking my butt, letting me know how much I suck right now.”

Where some people might complain about a change in opponent in the late stages of camp, the perpetually upbeat Dodson took the news in stride. Though the hardcore set may have been more interested in the original clash of styles with the grappling ace Uyenoyama, Dodson thinks the pairing with Elliott will produce a better fight for the fans on Saturday night.

“I can’t really do anything with them changing (my opponent),” he says with the calm of a man who truly isn’t concerned by the late switch. “It doesn’t really matter who I fight; I’m just glad I’m still fighting on this card. If I had gotten pulled off the card I would have been a little heartbroken.

“I know he’s taking the fight on short notice, and that’s cool — I’m glad that he is; big ups to him. I’ve got to just come out prepared for everything. I’ve got to have my striking up to par, my ground game, my wrestling. Everywhere that the fight might go, I need to be ready at all times. I’ve just got to be on my game.

“It is a better style matchup for me, but also it’s going to be a better fight for the fans to watch. It’s going to be a high intensity fight. I know that he likes to push the pace for that first round, and I’m willing to push back. I can push him as hard as he wants to go, and I’ll eventually break him.”

When he does, Dodson will get right back into the gym to continue his pursuit of the first of the three titles he aims to capture and defend in his UFC career.

“People can sit there and make fun of me all they want, but that’s the goal I have in mind. You’ve gotta have a goal to chase, right?”

The landscape of the UFC welterweight division has shifted a great deal over the last year.

In the 12 months since Georges St-Pierre defended his title for the sixth consecutive time at UFC 129 against Jake Shields, the 170-pound ranks have been in a constant state of flux, with established stars being overtaken by emerging talents, new names being added to the roll call of contenders, and the dominant champion being felled by injury.

That same brisk night in Toronto, St-Pierre’s teammate and fellow Canadian Rory MacDonald cemented his standing as one of the top prospects in the division, rag-dolling Nate Diaz around the Octagon during the third round of their decidedly one-sided meeting. Four months later, the Kelowna, British Columbia native made quick work of Mike Pyle, stopping the veteran in less than four minutes at UFC 133 in a performance that served notice that MacDonald was more contender than up-and-comer.

With the division as wide open as it has been in years, many see MacDonald’s upcoming fight at UFC 145 as an opportunity for the 22-year-old Canadian to establish himself as a legitimate threat. It’s a feeling the talented young fighter shares, but not because of the changes that have transpired in the last 12 months.

“Georges being out or the veterans falling off, it doesn’t matter,” says the soft-spoken MacDonald. “Whatever the case may be, I feel like I’m headed towards being the best in the world, regardless of who’s in front of me. I’m not worried about who falls off or who the new contender is; I’m just focused on increasing my skills, and improving myself as a fighter. I really feel like I’m on track to be a great champion soon.”

The confidence that a championship reign rests on the horizon is nothing new for MacDonald. Even before he’d made his UFC debut at age 20, the former King of the Cage lightweight champion had designs on greatness. As he prepares for his fifth bout in the biggest organization in the sport, the rapidly developing welterweight believes he’s on track to reach his goal of becoming a champion before his 24th birthday.

“I feel like things are going well for me. I think I’m real close to achieving one of the major milestones of my career, and being a champion in the UFC. I definitely feel I’m on the right path and in the right position, especially at my age, so I’m happy with where I’m at, but I’m not happy with staying here. I still need to make more waves, continue to progress, and continue to have exciting fights.”

One of the key contributors to MacDonald’s quick climb from being a 20-year-old neophyte to a legitimate threat in one of the UFC’s deepest divisions was his decision to relocate to Montreal to train with Firas Zahabi and the team at Tristar Gym, a decision that mirrored a difficult choice MacDonald was faced with earlier in his career.

While still in high school, MacDonald was given the option of moving from Kelowna with his family or staying behind on his own so that he could continue his mixed martial arts training.

“It was tough being alone and not having parents around when I was going through high school in terms of staying disciplined, but I adjusted, and stayed focused.”

A handful of years later, MacDonald can see the parallels between that situation and his decision to head to Montreal full-time after UFC 115.

“It was really difficult for me to leave my family behind, my friends, and my first and only training camp (at Toshido Martial Arts), and my trainer, David Lea. It was a really tough decision for me, but to take the next step in my career, and evolve as a martial artist, I felt I needed to.

“After the Carlos (Condit) fight, that’s when I knew I needed to move,” discloses the 22-year-old who ditched his original nickname (The Waterboy) in favor of sharing a moniker with the Greek god of war (Ares) back at UFC 129.

Fighting in front of a partisan crowd in Vancouver, MacDonald controlled the current interim welterweight champion through the first two rounds before Condit roared back to secure a stoppage late in the third. Coming up short against “The Natural Born Killer” convinced him it was time to make la belle province his permanent home.

“I had visited Montreal, stayed with Georges, and trained several times for a couple weeks (at a time) here in Montreal, and I recognized this was the best place for me.”

MacDonald credits Zahabi with taking his skills to the next level inside the cage, and the vast collection of veterans who call Tristar home with doling out encouragement and insight at every turn.

“Inside the cage, working with Firas changed a lot of my style. I’ve evolved and learned new things, added different things to my game. Technically, I changed a whole bunch for the better.

“Outside, lifestyle things, I’ve adapted to the big city and this lifestyle, and because there are so many veteran fighters out here, I get to sit down and really listen to what they have to say; they always have good advice, whether it be career-based or just the little things you go through in training as you prepare for a fight. It’s good that way too.”

One of the biggest adjustments MacDonald has made is finding a specific training regimen that suits his needs. After battling injuries over the first two years of his UFC career — including having to withdraw from a planned bout with Brian Ebersole at UFC 140 in Toronto last December — the Canadian contender is hopeful that his new system will help him stay healthy in 2012, and lead to more frequent appearances inside the Octagon moving forward.

“There’s so many guys here always learning different styles of training — different techniques, different programs, different outlooks — and so many guys have different schedules here, I was trying to adjust, and make it all work for me. It took some time; everyone’s different, so you have to train your body the way it needs to be. Some guys train more, some guys train less; everyone needs to cater to what works best for them.

“Lately, I’ve found the program I have set right now works best for me, so I’m happy with that. I think I’ll be able to start fighting more consistently throughout the year now. My goal is to start fighting three times a year at least, not one or two, and then get injured. That’s really annoying. The fans don’t like it, and I don’t get to showcase my abilities, which is what I like to do the most. Finding my groove in my training is going to pay off massively.”

MacDonald’s next opportunity to showcase his abilities comes this weekend against Che Mills, another of the talented new additions to the welterweight ranks over the last 12 months. The popular British striker made an explosive debut last October, finishing TUF 13 alum Chris Cope in just 40 seconds at UFC 138, earning Knockout of the Night honors in the process.

Coming off wins over Diaz and Pyle, some have viewed Mills as a step down in competition for MacDonald, but the 22-year-old doesn’t concern himself with the matchmaking decisions or outside perceptions of his upcoming opponent.

“I don’t worry about the politics side of it or all of that. Che Mills is a great fighter, and a worthy opponent. Just because he hasn’t been seen in front of the camera that many times doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous or a great martial artist.

“You can’t be fooled by TV,” MacDonald continues. “There are a lot of guys you may not have heard of (before) that would beat some of the best guys in the world, it’s just that they may not have been marketed properly, you know? It’s definitely not a step down.”

This fight is, however, a step up on the marquee, as MacDonald and Mills will serve as the co-main event in Atlanta, setting the table for the long awaited UFC light heavyweight title showdown between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans. It’s an opportunity MacDonald is proud to accept, and one he feels he’s earned inside the cage.

“I feel like — and I think the UFC feels it as well — that I put on good shows every time I fight. The fans have responded well to when I fight — they seem to enjoy it — and that’s what I strive to do. It’s an honor that I’ve been put in this position with the little amount of fights that I’ve had, but I feel that it’s performance-based, and you reap the rewards for performing well.”

From his first round submission win over Mike Guymon in his debut through his dominant performance against Mike Pyle in August, there is no denying MacDonald has been performing well. The welterweight has shown dramatic improvement every time he’s stepped into the Octagon, and he looks to continue that trend at UFC 145 and beyond.

“Every fight in my career has been like that; I always want to take another step forward. Every year I improve massive amounts just because I’m focused and determined to keep improving, and it shows in my fights.”

MacDonald says he expects this to be the best performance of his career, and while he’s not one for specific predictions, the confident welterweight contender with the championship plans does have an outcome in mind for Saturday night’s co-main event.

“I definitely see myself stopping him, and being the victor.”

Michael McDonald has been looking forward to fighting Miguel Torres for a couple of years now.

The 21-year-old bantamweight prospect, viewed by many as a future champion and one of the most talented young fighters in the sport today, recalls watching Torres during his ascent to the top of the 135-pound division in the WEC; the days when Torres was a champion, a fixture on pound-for-pound lists, and in the midst of an impressive winning streak.

Most young fighters look at a champion on the television and hope to one day emulate what they see. Let it be said that Michael McDonald isn’t “most young fighters.”

“I watched Miguel Torres when he fought Chase Beebe when he first burst onto the scene, and he won the title. I remember when he fought him, and when he fought Manny Tapia — when he was the best in the world in peoples’ eyes — I remember watching him at that time and saying, `I think I can beat him.’ I didn’t say, `In two years I think I can beat him.’ I said, `Right now, me being me, not compromising a single thing for his style — just me being me — I think I can beat him right now.’”

McDonald will get the chance to look across 32 feet of canvas at Torres Saturday night when the two 135-pound standouts go toe-to-toe to kick off the UFC 145 pay-per-view broadcast.

“I’ve just wanted to fight this guy for such a long time. When he fought Manny Tapia, I made the decision that I wanted to fight both of them. I’ve fought Manny already; I got that one out of the way. Now this is my chance at the second notch.”

McDonald dispatched Tapia on his way to becoming the youngest fighter in the WEC at the time, handing the former title contender a first round loss in February 2010. A little more than two years later, he’s poised to complete the double, and take the next step towards becoming a challenger for the bantamweight title.

To the majority of observers, each of McDonald’s trio of wins inside the Octagon has been impressive. He won Fight of the Night honors in his UFC debut against Edwin Figueroa, and then took a split decision from the durable Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 last May. Back in November, McDonald delivered his most dynamic performance to date, stopping Alex Soto in just 56 seconds at UFC 139 in San Jose.

While fans and critics praise his performances, the ultra-competitive Modesto, California native has very different feelings about his first three appearances on the biggest stage in the sport.

“I’m not happy with my progression so far, and what I’ve shown people in the UFC about my skills,” McDonald says, the disappointment in his voice clinging to his words.

“Those are the only two decisions that I’ve been to in my life,” he says of the fights with Figueroa and Cariaso, “and I don’t think that it’s just because the competition is getting better. I really think that if I’m on my game, I can finish just about anyone on the planet in the first round. If I’m on my game.

“Someone might say I’m cocky, overconfident, whatever — who cares? That’s what I think about myself, and I’m going to get the chance to prove it to myself whether I can or not, so we’ll see. I want to be able to prove it to myself, but I’m not happy with how I’ve done so far. I’m happy that I’ve made some money. I’m happy that I’ve gotten to invest that money in some good things. I’m happy that I’m winning, but I’m not happy overall with my performance.”

That might sound like a fighter being overly self-critical, perhaps even put-on to some people, but it’s the sincere assessment of an athlete who gauges his performance not by the applause he receives from the audience or the praise he gets in print.

“I’ve always been a competition addict — anything that I could compete in, I would — and the reason why I fell in love with fighting was that I was good at it, and it was the most pure form of competition that I had found.

“Competition for me, and the fighting thing, it’s all just what I feel I can do. I’m competitive with myself,” explains McDonald, who speaks in a reflective, thoughtful cadence more customary of someone twice his age.

“I’ll have a problem or feel like something is troubling me from training that needs to be fixed, and someone will come to me and say, `Your opponent’s doing this. Look how much he’s training. He’s going to beat you up if you’re not training. Who cares about this little problem? Go do this!’ and that will piss me off because I don’t care what they’re doing.

“I don’t care what they’re like, what their fighting style is, or who it is — I have a problem right now, and I need help with that problem. It’s not about what they’re doing, it’s about what I’m doing, and I’m going to do the best that I can do no matter what they’re doing.

“If I can do better, than I should do better,” McDonald continues, his conviction radiating through the phone. “I don’t need to look at someone else, and see how good they’re doing or how lazy I am just to motivate me to do better. If I can do better, than I’m going to do better, and do the best I possibly can.

“I feel like when I don’t compare myself to other people, but just say that I’m going to do the best that I can, that’s when I work harder. Not when I look at my opponent and say, `He’s not working at all; I’m so far ahead of him.’ It’s just whatever I can do. It is strictly my competition with myself, and proving to myself that I can do what I think I can.”

That’s what frustrates him about the fights with Figueroa and Cariaso. Despite coming away from both outings victorious, McDonald knows he made mistakes in each contest, and as such, feels little satisfaction from the scorecards ending up in his favor.

“It’s not about what other people think: it’s about what I think about myself, and how I know I did. It’s not about whether I won or not; it’s about could I have done better. When I look at the Edwin Figueroa fight or the Chris Cariaso fight, I don’t talk about the problems in those fights, but there were an incredible amount of problems, and I could have done much better.”

McDonald was happy with his performance against Alex Soto, however, but not for the reasons you might think.

“My last fight was the first kind of glimpse of me feeling good. I felt great for that fight, and every time he came in, I touched him. That’s what I like to do. It wasn’t just that one punch that I hit either — every time he came in, I hit him, and didn’t get hit, and that’s what I like to do. That makes me happy, not the win or the knockout.”

When the UFC flyweight division was introduced, the bantamweight ranks lost two of its elite contenders, Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez. With champion Dominick Cruz having already dispatched the majority of the remaining contenders, a victory over Torres could put McDonald in line for a shot at the bantamweight title against the winner of the Cruz-Faber trilogy fight that goes down later this summer.

Just like Tapia and Torres were, both Faber and Cruz are on McDonald’s list of competitors he’d like to challenge himself against.

“It’s not that I don’t like the guys or anything like that — I want to fight them because I think that they’re great, but I still think that I’m better,” he says, clarifying the competitive motivation that drives him. “I still think that I can beat them, even though they are great; that’s why I want to fight them.

“I want to fight a lot of good people. I want to fight Urijah (Faber). I wanted to fight Joseph Benavidez. I want to fight (Dominick) Cruz. I want to fight Eddie Wineland. I want to fight Renan Barao. There are a lot of people that I want to fight just for that simple reason that I think that I can beat them.”

McDonald is cognizant that his career is only in its infancy, and that he has the luxury of being patient, rather than having to chase the biggest names at every turn. At the same time, the competitive side of him is itching to prove that despite being the most junior man in the bantamweight division, he just might be the best of the bunch as well.

“I don’t want to be stupid because I do realize that I am 21-years old, and if everything goes perfectly, I’ve got another 15 years in this sport. That’s almost as long as I’ve been alive. I have a long way to go, and there’s still so much that I have to learn.
 
“I’m not going to run forward and say, `I want to fight all the time, and give me the best fighters ever.’ I’m not going to sandbag and say, `Give me the easiest opponent’ either. I’m ready for anyone that they throw at me.

“I’m real about knowing that I’m 21 — I’m young, and I’ve got a long way to go until I’m the best that I can be, but I feel that right now, I am able to compete with the top fighters in the world at 21-years old.”

Even if the day comes that McDonald rests atop the bantamweight rankings, he still won’t be done competing with himself, and that what makes it all the more likely that he’ll get there, sooner rather than later.

“The competition with everyone else is secondary,” McDonald reiterates. “It’s not about saying, `I’ve got a long way to go until I’m the best in the world,’ it’s `I’ve got a long way to go until I’m the best that I can be.’”

 

When the UFC first announced their intentions to hold an event in Sweden, Alexander Gustafsson was preparing to face Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC 141. Though he was focused on “The Janitor,” the opportunity to compete in front of his family and friends in Stockholm had certainly crossed his mind.

He described the potential opportunity as “a dream come true” back in December. After earning a first-round stoppage victory over Matyushenko to extend his winning streak to four, Gustafsson’s dream is about to come true as the talented striker is set to headline this weekend’s UFC on FUEL TV event.

All the elements are there to make this the most pressure-packed fight of the 25-year-old prospect’s career.

The local light heavyweight stands as the star of the show, and the most accomplished and recognizable name on the highly European lineup. Originally matched up with veteran Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Gustafsson was thrown a curveball midway through his training camp, as the man known as “Little Nog” was forced out of the bout, and replaced by the returning Thiago Silva.

In addition to fighting at home for the time in almost three years, many people view this as Gustafsson’s chance step into the spotlight, and show why whispers that he might one day be a potential threat to light heavyweight champion Jon Jones have been growing louder with each subsequent victory he collects in the cage.

That combination of factors could easily leave Gustafsson feeling like he’s under the gun as he gets set to step into the cage at the Ericsson Globe Arena on Saturday night. Unfortunately for Silva, the only thing the talented Swedish contender is feeling is excitement.

“I’m really excited for it,” says Gustafsson. “I couldn’t believe it just a few months ago, so I’m very excited for it. It’s going to be great. It’s a huge thing for Swedish MMA, for the future, so I can’t wait. It’s going to be awesome.

“I don’t feel any pressure at all. I’m just doing what I love to do, and I’m just enjoying every day. This is what I love to do, but it’s just another fight for me. Of course, it’s in my hometown, and it’s a dream come true for me, but at the end, it’s just a fight like every other fight.”

Gustafsson knows that opportunities will come for him in time provided he keeps winning, and instead of focusing on where a victory in this fight will lead him, he’s more interested on the impact the UFC’s arrival in his homeland will have on the sport moving forward.

“I see myself as a top 10 guy, and I want to fight the best guys in the division, but like I’ve said before, it’s just one fight at a time. I don’t have any hurry. I just have to win my fights; that’s the most important for me.

“The sport is getting big in Sweden,” he continues. “There’s so much talent from the young guys, and this will be progress in the right direction. More gyms are going to pop up now, and in the near future, you’re not going to have to fly overseas (to train), so it’s on the right path.”

Making the journey across the Atlantic is something Gustafsson has been doing regularly since he suffered the only loss of his career to Phil Davis at UFC 112.

The former Division I National champion used his tremendous wrestling advantage to control Gustafsson on the ground, eventually forcing the lanky striker known as “The Mauler” to tap to an anaconda choke late in the first round. Looking to improve his abilities on the mat and continue to evolve his training, Gustafsson turned to the man who had just beaten him and the team at Alliance MMA for help.

“Right after that fight, I talked to his coaches, and we invited Alex out — so did Phil — and we knew he’d be an asset to have as part of the team,” explains Eric Del Fierro, the head coach of the San Diego-based team that includes Davis, Brandon Vera, and UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. “You could tell he had good rhythm in his striking, but a lot of these guys from Europe are missing the wrestling component that you need, so we invited him out.

“His boxing coach Andreas (Michael) called me up and said, ‘We’d like to come out and possibly do a camp with you guys.’ They came out for Cyrille Diabate, and he did a full camp with us, which was about nine weeks, and we just worked on his weaknesses, and gave him a bit of a different look at the fight game.”

The improvements were noticeable right away, as Gustfasson controlled the French veteran throughout the contest, finishing him in the second round by rear naked choke, and he’s continued to look more impressive in each successive outing.

“It’s astonishing that he’s in there finishing all of his opponents and still flying under the radar, which is good for him,” says Del Fierro of Gustafsson, who has finished all five of his wins inside the Octagon, and 12 of the 13 fights he’s won overall. “I told him to enjoy it because you’re only going to be there for so long. The spotlight is going to be on you, and you’re going to have to rise and shine with that spotlight.”

Saturday’s main event meeting with Silva stands as the opportunity Del Fierro speaks of.

Silva, an American Top Team product with lethal striking and an underrated submission game that isn’t often utilized, has lost just twice in his career, both coming to former light heavyweight champions — Lyoto Machida at UFC 94, and Rashad Evans just under a year later at UFC 108. The 29-year-old Brazilian is returning following a one-year suspension resulting from his use of a banned substance before his UFC 125 bout with Gustafsson’s Alliance teammate Brandon Vera.

Though he’s quick to give Silva credit for his accomplishments in the cage, Gustafsson admits he’s less than impressed with his opponent’s actions and attitude in his bout with Vera.

“I think he’s a great fighter, no disrespect. He’s a really great fighter, and he’s beaten some tough guys, but as a sportsman, I don’t think he behaves too good. His lack of respect for his opponents and stuff, that just motivates me even more, and makes me want to fight him even more. I’ve wanted to fight him for a long time now, and I’m glad I finally get the chance.”

Del Fierro is excited for the matchup as well, as he believes it will be a great opportunity to see where Gustafsson stands in the deep and talented light heavyweight division.

“Thiago is a stern test; he’s a tough guy, he always brings the fight, and never goes backwards, so we’ll see how Alex deals with it.”

Talk of Gustafsson being a potential challenger and threat to UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones started to get louder following his win over Matyushenko back in December. Having rattled off four consecutive victories, and dispatched a pair of durable UFC veterans in back-to-back outings, it’s understandable for people to view the 25-year-old Swede as a future championship contender in the 205-pound division.

It’s a feeling Del Fierro shares, even if he doesn’t say those words exactly.

“He’s literally a kid, and he’s a kid that enjoys training. He never shows up just hating his life; he loves every moment of it. He’s a phenomenal athlete, and his boxing coach, Andreas Michael, I can’t say enough about him; the guy is awesome. Together, I think we were able to give Alex a better understanding of striking for MMA —not necessarily just boxing — and the kid just has fun.

“He goes in there, and enjoys going in there and implementing these new weapons. We helped him out with his kickboxing, and his wrestling and jiu-jitsu games, and he’s doing great. I’ve (worked with) him for about two years, and we’ve seen leaps and bounds in his striking, and his kickboxing, and his abilities to use knees in the clinch, and his offensive and defensive wrestling.

“His jiu-jitsu game has evolved a lot around his body type, and showing him how to use his own leverage instead of the basic understanding of jiu-jitsu, and the kid’s doing great. I don’t think he’s even at fifty percent of his potential.”

Gustafsson sums up his potential a little more succinctly.

 “For me, the last couple of years have been great. I’ve been taking the sport seriously; it’s been more like a job, not just a hobby. I train harder, I know where I train, and there is more thinking behind the training.

“I’ve got my whole club in Stockholm where I’m based, and my head coach, Andreas Michael, is with me 24-7. He’s helped me a lot with everything, and with Coach Eric’s help and everyone at Alliance, it’s been a lot of progress. I’m still just young in the business, and I can be so much better, and I will be. I just want to learn and progress every day.

“When it comes to how good I can be, the sky is the limit.”