Gleison Tibau inspired by the career resurgence of teammate Robbie Lawler

Robbie Lawler became the UFC welterweight champion 12 years after his promotional debut, and a fellow American Top Team fighter sees him as an example that everything is possible when you work hard.

Gleison Tibau, who made his Octagon debut in 2006, makes his 24th appearance under the UFC banner against Norman Parke at Sunday night’s UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston, and looks for his third win in a row to get one step closer to the top of the division.

“Despite the fact that I took this fight on short notice and only had five weeks to prepare, I was already training hard when they offered me the fight,” Tibau told MMAFighting.com. “I was helping Robbie Lawler train for his title fight, and Parke is a southpaw as well. The UFC needed me, and I’m always here for them. They can always count on me. I’m always training twice a day when I’m here in the United States, so I just started my diet and set a game plan for Parke.”

Lawler defeated Johny Hendricks via split decision on Dec. 6 to become the UFC welterweight champion, and that gave Tibau extra motivation for his next bouts inside the Octagon.

“Robbie Lawler’s win inspired me even more,” he said. “He always was a great athlete, a longtime veteran, who fought in the UFC years ago and returned now to become champion. Nobody expected that he would become the UFC champion, and he made the adjustments he needed to win the title. He worked hard for that and won the belt. That inspired me a lot. That opened my eyes. I know I have what it takes to win the UFC title, and I know my time will come.”

If he fights four times this year, Tibau will break the record of most UFC fights with 28. And seeing Rafael dos Anjos as the next lightweight contender, a fighter he defeated by decision in 2011, made him realize he could get there as well.

“I never doubted my potential,” Tibau said. “I just had to make some adjustments. Rafael is one of the best, so is Khabib (Nurmagomedov). The losses I had were against top fighters, and I knew I had to work on some small details. Seeing the guys that I fought at the top motivate me to get there as well.”

“My goal is to win fights. I don’t care who I fight, I just want to win. My time will come,” he continued. “I see Rafael as an example. After I defeated him, Khabib was the only one to stop him. He never gave up, continued working hard and will now fight for the UFC title.”

To get there, Tibau needs to stop Parke at UFN 59. Winner of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes season, Parke hasn’t lost in almost five years, but the Brazilian veteran believes the key of the victory is simple.

“I believe a lot in my wrestling. If I can put him on his back, it’s going to be a good fight for me,” Tibau said. “My jiu-jitsu is superior, so I will be able to control and submit him. If I put him on his back, I will catch his arm or his neck.

“He’s motivated, hasn’t lost in a while. He has a good wrestling, a good striking game, and I’m sure he will be ready for a great fight. I trained hard, as if it was for the UFC title, and I will break his winning streak.”

Robbie Lawler became the UFC welterweight champion 12 years after his promotional debut, and a fellow American Top Team fighter sees him as an example that everything is possible when you work hard.

Gleison Tibau, who made his Octagon debut in 2006, makes his 24th appearance under the UFC banner against Norman Parke at Sunday night’s UFC Fight Night 59 in Boston, and looks for his third win in a row to get one step closer to the top of the division.

“Despite the fact that I took this fight on short notice and only had five weeks to prepare, I was already training hard when they offered me the fight,” Tibau told MMAFighting.com. “I was helping Robbie Lawler train for his title fight, and Parke is a southpaw as well. The UFC needed me, and I’m always here for them. They can always count on me. I’m always training twice a day when I’m here in the United States, so I just started my diet and set a game plan for Parke.”

Lawler defeated Johny Hendricks via split decision on Dec. 6 to become the UFC welterweight champion, and that gave Tibau extra motivation for his next bouts inside the Octagon.

“Robbie Lawler’s win inspired me even more,” he said. “He always was a great athlete, a longtime veteran, who fought in the UFC years ago and returned now to become champion. Nobody expected that he would become the UFC champion, and he made the adjustments he needed to win the title. He worked hard for that and won the belt. That inspired me a lot. That opened my eyes. I know I have what it takes to win the UFC title, and I know my time will come.”

If he fights four times this year, Tibau will break the record of most UFC fights with 28. And seeing Rafael dos Anjos as the next lightweight contender, a fighter he defeated by decision in 2011, made him realize he could get there as well.

“I never doubted my potential,” Tibau said. “I just had to make some adjustments. Rafael is one of the best, so is Khabib (Nurmagomedov). The losses I had were against top fighters, and I knew I had to work on some small details. Seeing the guys that I fought at the top motivate me to get there as well.”

“My goal is to win fights. I don’t care who I fight, I just want to win. My time will come,” he continued. “I see Rafael as an example. After I defeated him, Khabib was the only one to stop him. He never gave up, continued working hard and will now fight for the UFC title.”

To get there, Tibau needs to stop Parke at UFN 59. Winner of The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes season, Parke hasn’t lost in almost five years, but the Brazilian veteran believes the key of the victory is simple.

“I believe a lot in my wrestling. If I can put him on his back, it’s going to be a good fight for me,” Tibau said. “My jiu-jitsu is superior, so I will be able to control and submit him. If I put him on his back, I will catch his arm or his neck.

“He’s motivated, hasn’t lost in a while. He has a good wrestling, a good striking game, and I’m sure he will be ready for a great fight. I trained hard, as if it was for the UFC title, and I will break his winning streak.”