Author: By E. Spencer Kyte

Like a lot of people who watched their lightweight battle at UFC 119, Evan Dunham believes he beat Sean Sherk.

Taking home Fight of the Night honors and a win in the eyes of the public did little to numb the pain of coming away on the wrong side of the scorecards. Instead of standing with a dozen consecutive victories, Dunham was dealt the first loss of his career, and it rattled him.

The UFC continued to push the talented lightweight as one of the top emerging talents in the deep 155-pound division, booking him as one half of the headlining act for the second Fight for the Troops event. Originally scheduled to meet Kenny Florian, a knee injury put the former title contender on the sidelines, and put Dunham in the path of the surging Melvin Guillard.

In less than three minutes, Guillard blitzed Dunham, leaving him crumpled against the cage with a second consecutive loss on his record. In the span of four months, he’d gone from unbeaten up-and-comer poised to make a push for a title shot to another member of the large collection of fighters huddled just outside of contention.

“I think in the long run it will be good for me,” Dunham said of the experience. “The two losses were tough, but that’s just part of the game. I’ve just got to learn from it. Not every lesson is learned in the gym; sometimes they’re learned in the ring or after the fact, dealing with it mentally. I think in the long term it will be good for me because I was able to adjust some things mentally and physically, and I’ll be a better fighter for it.

“I had a pretty good streak there — 11 wins without a loss — and then I lost that fight to Sherk that I truly believe I didn’t lose, so it was tough to swallow. Mentally it was straining and strenuous on me. One way I was able to get over it was to focus on what I believe happened in that fight – that I won that fight. I’m over it at this point; it is what it is, and that’s what helped me prepare for that (Shamar) Bailey fight, and put on a good performance.”

After almost nine full months on the sidelines spent streamlining his training routine, dealing with lingering injuries, and starting to work with Ray Sefo, Dunham returned to the cage in September with a dominant decision victory over TUF 13 alum Shamar Bailey.

The 30-year-old Oregon native controlled the action from the outside, peppering Bailey with punches from start to finish. Earlier in his career Dunham would have come away from the fight focusing on what he wasn’t able to do in the bout, but not now. Now he’s only concerned with building on the positive elements of his performance, continuing to develop, and returning to contender status in the UFC’s deepest division.

“I was happy with it. My first thoughts were that I was disappointed that I couldn’t put him away, but that goes back to critiquing myself when maybe I don’t need to be so hard on myself. I was really happy with it. He’s a tough kid that can take a shot, and I was able to put my hands together nicely. I think it was a good step to work my way back up there. I was happy with the performance and we’ll build off that.

“After watching the film and going over the fight with Ray, I think there were reasons why I wasn’t able to put him away — little things with my technique, how I was throwing some of my punches, and that sort of stuff. There’s reasoning behind it; we’ve made those adjustments, and I plan on being able to correct that here in the future.”

Dunham gets the opportunity to put the adjustments he’s made to the test this weekend in Chicago, returning to the cage in a bout that many critics see as a high risk, low reward encounter.

Originally scheduled to face unbeaten British submission specialist Paul Sass, the 23-year-old Scouser was forced out of the intriguing matchup with an injury, with Nik Lentz stepping up to fill the void. Despite his recent two-fight winless streak, Dunham sees his new opponent as a tougher test, but one he’s well prepared for heading into Saturday night.

“I honestly believe from watching both Sass and Lentz fight, I think Lentz is a tougher fight; he’s more experienced. It’s two different styles of fights — you went from Sass who would do anything in a fight to end up on his back to a guy who will do anything to put me on my back and keep me there. Sass is a tough guy, but I think Lentz is more experienced, and he’s a grinder, and you’ve always got to be careful with guys like that.

“With Lentz, there isn’t really any mystery behind him; you know what he’s going to do. He’s going to come in, he’ll probably stand with me for a little bit, but as soon as he gets caught with any kind of punch, he’s going to be coming in hard for that takedown.”

Regardless of who he’s facing and the opinions of the experts, Dunham intends to make a statement about where he stands in the division with this fight, and he knows just how he’ll do it, right down to how he’ll get his hand raised.

“I plan on going out there and putting a great performance on, making people realize that I’m here, I’m not going anywhere, and I deserve to be considered at that level. I think this a great opportunity (to do that).

“I think we’ll come out in the first round, exchange some punches, and he’ll eventually shoot. I’ll stuff his shot, put him on his back, beat him up a bit, and then I’m going to come out in the second round and knock him out.”

Donald Cerrone doesn’t care where he sits in the rankings.

He doesn’t worry about where critics or fans place him amongst the elite lightweights in the UFC.

Even though he steps into the Octagon on Friday night riding a six-fight winning streak that includes four wins in 2011, three Fight Night bonuses, and back-to-back first-round finishes, “Cowboy” is only concerned with getting another opportunity to step into the cage and collect some more money.

“I could give a s**t who’s over me,” answered Cerrone, the words snapping out with the speed and ferocity of the leg kicks he used to pummel Vagner Rocha at UFC 131 back in June. “It’s pretty much keep going, man. Just keep ‘em coming.”

While 2011 has been a breakout year for Cerrone, he had showed flashes of his potential during his days in the WEC.

A perennial title contender, the 28-year-old battled for the organization’s lightweight belt on three occasions over a six-fight stretch, beginning with his controversial first encounter with Jamie Varner. Never able to emerge with the gold wrapped around his waist, Cerrone slipped into the background slightly as the WEC’s lightweight ranks merged into the UFC’s deepest division.

Reigning champion Anthony Pettis and former titleholder Benson Henderson garnered the majority of the attention in the wake of their classic battle at WEC 53, though Cerrone had earned a victory on the company’s final card as well, submitting Chris Horodecki in the second round. It was his second victory in three months, a follow-up to the dominant win he collected in his long-awaited rematch with Varner a few months earlier.

Like many of his fellow WEC graduates, Cerrone entered the UFC with a chip on his shoulder, ready to show that he was every bit as good as the competitors in the UFC’s 155-pound division.

“The proof is in the pudding there, man,” said the callous “Cowboy,” the chip still maintaining its former address. “There’s not much left to say. We all need someone to doubt on us. Just tell them to keep on doubting on me.”

There are few doubting Cerrone at this point. He’s won four more times over the last ten months, extending the winning streak he began in the WEC to six, propelling himself further up the lightweight rankings with each subsequent victory.

Cerrone stepped in for an injured Sam Stout at UFC 126 in February and submitted Paul Kelly in the second round, earning Submission of the Night honors in the process. Four months later, he thrashed Rocha in Vancouver, but it wasn’t until his last two fights that people really started to sit up and take notice.

“I just feel like I’m hot,” admitted Cerone. “I don’t know, that’s just how life goes, in waves like that. You’ll be on top and then you’re at your lowest time. Right now, I feel good; everything seems to be going right.”

In August, he blitzed youngster Charles Oliveira, crumpling the talented Brazilian under a torrent of strikes. Two months later, he filled in for Stout again and earned a similar result as he had in February, halting Dennis Siver’s climb up the rankings with a first round submission win at UFC 137.

Like many observers, Cerrone believes he’s always had the potential for this kind of success.

“I think I’ve always had it there — it’s just been getting my mind to tell my body what to do, getting my mind right. I’ve been figuring out what it takes for me to fight in the cage the way that I do in practice, you know?”

Heading into the fight with Siver in October, Cerrone made it known that if everything went as planned, he wanted to fight for a fifth time in 2011. UFC matchmaker Joe Silva granted him his wish.

“I’m super-excited. That’s what I asked for so bring it on. Close out the year with another fight — more money, more exposure, more everything.”

Just a few days after UFC 137 was officially in the books, Cerrone was paired with Nate Diaz.

After a four-fight stint as a welterweight, Diaz returned to the lightweight division at UFC 135 in September and picked apart Takanori Gomi, submitting the Japanese veteran in the first round. It was the best performance of his career, and immediately put the former Ultimate Fighter winner in the mix in the 155-pound ranks.

Now the two are matched up in the co-main event slot of the UFC’s year-end event, with the victor likely to earn a place on the short list of title contenders heading into 2012. It’s a pairing that should produce fireworks when the cage door closes on Friday night.

Both Cerrone and Diaz are extremely well rounded, capable of dominating an opponent with their striking or submission games, and transitioning between the two seamlessly.

That’s one way of putting it. Cerrone sums up his opponent’s approach in a much less analytical way.

“He’s game man, for sure. He talks a lot, and he gets in there and fights. I’m excited,” said Cerrone of his opponent, echoing feelings he shared earlier in the month when he praised Diaz and his brother for their approach in the cage.

“If I bumped into him in the parking lot and said, `What’s up?’ we’re throwing down, and I like that mentality. You can’t teach that. They come to fight, and me too.”

Like his older brother, Nate Diaz also knows how to fire up his opponent before they even step into the cage, and he’s done just that with Cerrone. Not that the fiery “Cowboy” really needed any extra motivation.

“Unfortunately, he ran his mouth too much this time, and now he’s going to be in trouble. I’m excited to fight him. Ring the bell. Let’s go!”

Add Ross Pearson‘s name to the growing list of competitors to change divisions after winning The Ultimate Fighter.

Two years and five fights after defeating countryman Andre Winner to claim the lightweight competition on Season nine of the UFC’s long-running reality series, the 27-year-old Briton is poised to make his featherweight debut at UFC 141.

With the list of contenders in the lightweight division constantly expanding, Pearson made the decision to bring his talents to the shallower depths of the featherweight ranks. He approached the UFC with the news, eying this event for his 145-pound debut.

“I first started coming to Alliance (MMA) out here in San Diego at the beginning of the year, and I just see myself improving all the time, getting better and better, and I wanted to keep that going,” explained Pearson of the request he made of UFC matchmakers Joe Silva and Sean Shelby. “I didn’t want to stop it and have to start a whole program of getting better again, you know? I wanted to keep the momentum going. I didn’t have any injuries from the fight (against Edson Barboza at UFC 134); yes, I had a few cuts and bruises and marks and stuff, but nothing really bad. I kept my fitness, I kept my strength, and I wanted to keep the momentum going.”

Pearson wasn’t the only one making requests of Silva and Shelby.

When the former bricklayer from Sunderland announced his intentions to change addresses, Junior Assuncao took to Twitter, asking for the opportunity to serve as the featherweight division’s version of “The Welcome Wagon.”

“If that’s what he wanted, he’s got his wish come true, you know?” laughed Pearson. “Not many people have asked for me as a fight. I always come to fight; I’m a hard fight for anyone. I’m never an easy fight, and he’s got a fight on his hands. If he wants to welcome me to the division, let him welcome us. I’ll be coming in to do my job.

“The things he’s been saying on Twitter, I think he’s the type of guy who needs to feel some animosity, some anger towards his opponent to get himself excited for his fights. If that’s his area, that’s what he likes to do, each to their own, you know what I mean?

“I’m totally different. It doesn’t matter — I don’t take anything personal. At the end of the day, we’re going to fight each other, and it is what it is to me. I’m just excited to go in there, perform, show my skills in this division.”

The excitement is evident in Pearson’s speech, and it’s easy to understand why.

He’s not shifting weight classes because he can’t compete at lightweight; Pearson went 4-2 in the division, with wins over veterans Aaron Riley and Spencer Fisher, and dangerous kickboxer Dennis Siver.

Though he lost his last bout at UFC 134, it was by the narrowest of margins, as Pearson and unbeaten prospect Edson Barboza paired up to capture Fight of the Night honors in Brazil.
 
For Pearson, this is the shortest road to the same destination every other fighter in the UFC is trying to reach — being crowned a champion. After a year of working with the outstanding team of coaches and athletes at Alliance, Pearson is confident he can make an instant impact in the featherweight division.

“Eric del Fierro is creating a monster. I’m the same fighter — I’ve got the same heart, the passion, desire — but he’s fueling me with all these weapons, and he’s making me faster and stronger. He’s making a dangerous Ross Pearson, and it’s going to be an exciting time in these next few years.

“My confidence is riding high right now. I feel like I’ve never been as well prepared for a fight. Normally, when I was back home in England and I was getting ready for fights, I was beating guys up in the gym — I was on fire; I was the best in the gym. Now that I’m out here, two weeks before the fight, I’m getting beat up. I’m getting beat down. I’m getting put in the worst positions. I’m getting submitted. I’m getting taken down and controlled. I have to work and fight in every position just to hold my own and do okay. It’s been amazing.

“I’ve loved every minute of getting the chance to train with world champions in every aspect of fighting. When you’re training with the level of guys that are out here, you’ve got to get good quick or you get beat up every day. It’s exactly what I needed.

“I’m not the best jiu-jitsu player, I’m not the best wrestler, I’m not the best striker, but I put it all together well, and I love testing myself against the best of the best in every area. That’s why I love it out here. The guys at this gym have got the dedication, the motivation to just push, and I thrive off that.”

Not that he needs it, but Pearson draws extra motivation from this fight being the final live UFC bout on Spike TV. As fighter who broke into the organization on the network, he feels a certain responsibility to end the relationship in style next Friday night, and that’s exactly what he plans on doing.

“I started my career on Spike with The Ultimate Fighter, and now I get to close the show so to speak, you know. It’s my job to put on an entertaining show for everyone who has fought on the show — everyone who has fought on a Spike card, every fight that has been on there.

“What can you expect? I always say fireworks because that’s the way I fight, but expect the unexpected — something you’ve never seen from me before.

“I’m looking to bring my whole MMA game to a whole new level. You’re going to see a new me. It’s a new division, it’s a new me, and I’m pushing for big things in this division, so it’s exciting times. I’ve got a point to prove, and I’m ready to showcase my new skills.”

 

With the UFC light heavyweight division spending a great deal of time in the spotlight this year, it’s surprising that Alexander Gustafsson hasn’t garnered more attention.

Not that the 24-year-old from Stockholm is complaining.

Despite a three-fight winning streak that includes a televised second round technical knockout win over Matt Hamill at UFC 133 in August, Gustafsson has remained outside of the torrent of media coverage generated by Jon Jones‘ climb to the top of the 205-pound division. While various others have been drawn into the storm, the 12-1 talent has not, leaving him plenty of time to focus on more important things.

“For me, the focus is always my training and my fight; that’s what I have in my head all the time — training and training and training. It doesn’t really matter how much attention I get.

“If I have a lot of media, for me it doesn’t really matter; I just train and that is my focus. A little media is also very good though, but I stay focused all the time.”

For the second time this year, “The Mauler” has set his focus on veteran Vladimir Matyushenko.

Originally scheduled to meet at UFC 133, Matyushenko was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury, setting up the aforementioned bout with Hamill. Following Gustafsson’s destruction of the former Ultimate Fighter standout, the UFC re-booked the wily veteran and the promising youngster, slotting them on the pay-per-view portion of the final event of the year.

“For me it’s an honor,” Gustafsson said of the chance to make his pay-per-view debut. “I’ve wanted to fight on pay-per-view for so long, and now I have the chance, so I’m just happy to fight on the main card. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Arguably the top prospect in the talent-rich light heavyweight division, Gustafsson has serious knockout power, as exhibited in his UFC debut against Jared Hamman and his second-round victory over Hamill in August. Equally impressive has been the dedication he’s shown to his ground game and the results those efforts have already started to yield.

After suffering the only loss of his career in a bout again Phil Davis at UFC 112, Gustafsson started training with the unbeaten former Penn State wrestling standout and the team at Alliance MMA in San Diego, California. In each of his next two outings, the knockout artist finished the fight on the ground, submitting both Cyrille Diabate and James Te Huna by rear naked choke.

“I’m a striker — that’s my bread and butter. I keep the fight on my feet and trade, but like everything else — all the other skills — you need to be good at them, and that’s something I need to train.

“I train everything, even my striking, and that’s something you need to have with you all the time. Not just train what you’re good at, but also what you’re bad at — that’s how you get better.”

Gustafsson has continued to train both at home in Sweden and with the team at Alliance alongside the likes of Davis, UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, heavyweight Joey Beltran, and fellow UFC 141 competitor Ross Pearson. The soft-spoken and humble 24-year-old is grateful to have the opportunity, and recognizes the evolution of his talents.

“I’m based in Stockholm; that’s where I’m training most of the time. When I have a fight coming up, I go to Alliance with Eric del Fierro and the guys there. I go forth-and-back all the time. I like it a lot — it’s something I’m really glad I get to do.

“I’ve had a lot of improvements. I feel much better in every category; I’m getting better every day, and improving every day. It’s the best coaches in the world, the best fighters in the world, and the best team in the world, so I’m just honored to be a part of the team, have a good time, and train hard.”

Gustafsson is also grateful the opportunity to step into the cage with a talented veteran like Matyushenko.

“Finally I can fight him; it’s been so long now. He’s a really tough guy, and I want to fight the best, so I’m really looking forward to the fight. I think it will be a really tough, tough fight.”

This fight is a litmus test for Gustafsson, one that has the potential to propel him to new heights entering 2012.

As UFC President Dana White is quick to remind people, Matyushenko is a tough out for anyone. The man who fought Tito Ortiz for the light heavyweight title at UFC 33 is a powerful wrestler with “old man strength” who has used his experience, guile, and a underrated striking to garner four wins in five fights since returning to the UFC following a six-year hiatus in 2009.

The only man to topple Matyushenko since his return was Jon Jones, who capped off his 2010 campaign with a win over “The Janitor” before embarking on his championship run this past year.

While Gustafsson might not follow the same path as the current light heavyweight champion if he’s able to come away from UFC 141 with a victory, securing a fourth consecutive win against a well-respected veteran like Matyushenko will open some eyes, and elevate the soon-to-be 25-year-old from prospect to contender.

Just as he hasn’t been caught up in all the attention surrounding his division over the last year, Gustafsson isn’t worried about where this fight will take him and what’s next in his career either. He prefers to keep things simple instead.

“Just have fun — have fun training, take one fight at a time, and try to win all my fights. That’s my goal right now — to win this fight and have fun doing it.”

Heading into his meeting with Igor Pokrajac at UFC 140, Krzysztof Soszynski is focused on one thing: entertaining the fans.

Riding a two-fight winning streak into his second fight on home soil this year, the Winnipeg, Manitoba product doesn’t offer any of the standard clichés about stringing together victories, making a run at the title, or this being his time. Instead, he’s refreshingly candid and honest about where he stands and what he sets out to do when he steps into the cage.

“I don’t have the greatest talent when it comes to mixed martial arts. I’m not a great striker, great wrestler, a good jiu-jitsu guy — I feel like I’m decently well rounded, but the one thing I like to go do is put exciting fights on.

“It’s not about winning or losing to be honest. I have losses on my record because I fought so many tough guys earlier in my career. I’m going to lose fights — fighters are going to lose fights — but it’s how you lose them.

“As long as I’m going out there, putting on a great performance, impressing the fans, impressing the UFC, then I’m going to be very happy and I’ll continue on fighting in the UFC for a long time. That’s my goal.”

Since graduating to the UFC from Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, Soszynski has amassed a 6-2 record, a mark that indicates he might be selling himself short in his self-assessment.

After collecting a trio of victories to start his UFC career, the 34-year-old one-time professional wrestler was bested by Brandon Vera at UFC 102. A pair of entertaining and violent battles with Stephan Bonnar followed, first at UFC 110, and then again five months later at UFC 116.

He lost the second meeting with Bonnar, but has since earned a pair of unanimous decision victories, most recently defeating Mike Massenzio at UFC 131 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Though he’s happy to earn the victories, Soszynski wasn’t overly pleased with his performance in either of his most recent wins. The bouts lacked the excitement Soszynski prides himself on bringing to the cage, the kind of excitement he created with Bonnar.

“My last two were a little dullish — I was fighting guys that wanted to take me down rather than stand and strike with me, so I’ve been wanting to best those fights. The two previous ones that were with Stephan Bonnar were absolute wars.

“I love those kind of fights; it was such a pleasure to fight him, and have such a great battle with him. It was awesome, and I always look forward to those kinds of fights. Those are the fights that people are going to want to see, and people are going to want to watch those fighters fight, so that’s definitely something that I want to keep doing with my career.”

Originally scheduled to meet in June, Soszynski hopes that he and Pokrajac can deliver the kind of back-and-forth slugfest that gets fans out of their seats now that they are finally going to stand opposite each other in the Octagon.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it. I was a little disappointed when he had to pull out of the last fight in Vancouver because of an injury,” he said. “I really like his style — he’s a good kickboxer, likes to stand-and-bang, likes to go toe-to-toe, which I’m really excited about.

“Those are the kind of fights that I want. He might maybe look to take me down, but I’m going to be ready for everything, like I always am. I’m hoping he wants to stand-and-bang, have a fun fight with me, but if it goes to the ground, it goes to the ground; I’m pretty good there too.”

The hulking light heavyweight with the disarming smile is also pretty good in front of a camera and on film.

With a role in the upcoming Kevin James MMA vehicle Here Comes the Boom and fresh off serving as Mickey Rourke’s stunt double in Immortals, Soszynski has enjoyed the challenges that have come his way outside the cage. But make no mistake about it — his new adventures remain secondary to his career inside the Octagon.

“For right now, I’m having a lot of opportunities outside of fighting coming my way, and I’m exploring those opportunities as well; they’re great. They’re fun because it’s something completely different from what I’m used to doing, so it’s nice to have those opportunities. But first and foremost, I’m a fighter; that’s how I make my living, and I’m really looking forward to continuing that.”

While the prospect of hanging up the four-ounce gloves is something many fighters struggle with, Soszynski knows that time is coming for him.

“It’s kind of see what happens and take it as it comes. I spoke with my family — I spoke with my wife — and we’ve kind of discussed that I don’t have much time left. I’ll be one of the first guys to admit to you that my body was never meant for this sport. I’ve known that from the start, and I know that now for sure.

“I’m surprised how far I’ve gotten in this sport with the body that I have, and all the injuries that I’ve been dealing with, but I just take it day-by-day with each fight. Depending on how I feel after this fight, if I have one more year left, I’ll talk to Joe Silva about that. If I have two more years left, we’ll talk to Joe Silva about that.”

Next up, he’ll be on location at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, standing under the bright lights inside the Octagon, working without a script, unsure of the outcome, but hopeful that he’ll entertain.

“I’m not very good at predictions; I’m not a big fan,” he laughs. “What I can tell you is that I’m 100-percent ready, physically and mentally. I’m looking to go in there, throw a lot of punches, a lot of kicks, and go toe-to-toe with Igor.

“Whatever situation comes to me, I’ll be ready. I’m just looking forward to putting on a great fight for all the fans in Toronto and all the fans that will be watching on Ion TV.”

When Mitch Clarke’s manager called him with the news that his fight with Evolution Fighting Championships was cancelled, the unbeaten Canadian was irritated, but only momentarily.

Instead of fighting on the regional circuit, Clarke would be fighting on the biggest stage of them all, squaring off with John Cholish at UFC 140 in Toronto on December 10. Irritation gave way to surprise, and has now been replaced by excitement according to Clarke.

“When it happened, I was more stunned than anything. It’s not something that I really expected. I expected maybe fighting some guys from TUF, some ex-UFC’ers to basically try and earn my way there, so I was just stunned. I was happy too, but mostly it just hits you all at once, and now it’s very real.

“I’m the first Saskatchewan-born fighter to get signed by the UFC. It’s a tremendous opportunity; I’m real excited, and I think it’s going to be a good time.”

Every trip into the cage has been a good time for Clarke thus far. The University of Saskatchewan graduate has never tasted defeat, carrying a perfect 9-0 record into his debut. While there is certainly pressure attached to making your initial appearance in the UFC — and perhaps some added pressure of being a Canadian debuting on Canadian soil — Clarke is keeping it all in perspective.

“It is a big deal, but if I was fighting John Cholish on a smaller show, I probably wouldn’t have the same emotions. But at the same time, it is a big deal, so you’ve got to treat it like it’s a big deal, but not think about it so much.

“It’s really hard not to get caught up in the moment, but at the same time, when I’m in the gym, I’m working. I don’t want to always be thinking about it because that’s where you see guys stumble — they get caught up in the Octagon jitters, their first UFC.

“I think there is just as much pressure (on both of us) because it’s in the UFC. I think it’s possible that because it’s in Canada — well I hope I get a little bit of support, being Canadian, but I also have to look at the fact that New York is closer to Toronto than Edmonton or Saskatoon.

“I don’t think it’s too much added pressure. Some people know him, not a lot of people know me; I just want to go out there and fight well more than anything.”

Unlike some UFC neophytes who are welcomed to the Octagon by an experienced veteran, both Clarke and Cholish will be making their maiden voyage into the UFC cage in Toronto.

“Hopefully he kinda has those Octagon jitters,” Clarke said of his opponent. “He fought in Strikeforce, so he has a little bit more experience in that sense, but both of us are coming into the UFC for the first time. Both of us are prospects — I think — and I think the real winners are the UFC and the fans because I think we’re both going to lay it on the line.”

In addition to his core team of trainers and coaches, the Edmonton-based Clarke made the trip to Victoria, British Columbia in preparation for this fight to work with Adam Zugec.

“I’m real happy that I added Zugec to this training camp. He’s wanted me to come out for a while. The guy’s an MMA genius in my opinion; he knows so much, and knows everything so well. He’s got a well-run system for his school, and his whole team is so good.”

Tucked away on Vancouver Island, Zugec is a rising star in the coaching ranks. The head coach and trainer of former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion Sarah Kaufman, Zugec not only helped Clarke prepare for what to expect from Cholish inside the cage, but the experience of fighting on the big stage as well.

“The funny thing is that you’re going to the UFC, but on the undercard, it’s usually dead; it’s kind of interesting,” offered Zugec. “You’ve been fighting your whole career to get to the UFC — which is the Super Bowl to you — but you start off on the undercard, so you’ve got to be prepared for the shock of there not being a lot of people there during your fight.

“I think there is a shock there because it’s such a massive ordeal to you — it’s a big event, everybody wants to go, it will be sold out — but then when you’re fighting, it’s dead. I think that’s an interesting thing that you have to prepare yourself for. You’re expecting 50,000 people to be screaming, and there are 106.  I think there is a psychological aspect to that.”

“I think those first UFC fights are big psychological barriers. I’m going to have him cutting weight with some very experienced fighters that will be on the same show, so I think that’s always helpful as well.”

Zugec, who has a close relationship with Greg Jackson and frequently works with the all-star cast from Albuquerque, said he’ll have Clarke preparing with UFC light heavyweight champion and UFC 140 headliner Jon Jones throughout the week in Toronto.

It’s just another element that adds to Clarke’s dream-come-true story.

“It’s not something I expected,” said the Saskatoon native. “You see so many really good fighters fight for years and never even touch the UFC, so to be able to be in the UFC — and fighting in Canada in the UFC — is a big deal; it’s awesome really. It’s where everyone wants to be, and that’s awesome.”